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You may recall that the door of a light rail car remained open as it traveled along I-84 Feb. 15, much to the consternation of the four people aboard. Having extensively investigated the incident, TriMet has determined that the door remained open due to corruption of two switches inside the bridgeplate, a ramp under the train’s door that allows users of wheelchairs and other mobility devices to board.
This is unsurprising, as corruption is endemic to the organization and apparently extends down into the deepest levels - in this case, a pair of nonexistent switches.
How bad is TriMet? Even the Oregonian editors, normally cheerleaders for anything involving rail, note that the agency has serious problems - both fiscally and in how they're perceived by suburban residents in Clackamas, Clark, and even Washington counties. TriMet is suing Clackamas County, whose residents by a strong majority of indicated repeatedly that they don't want light rail lines, in an effort to force them into complying with TriMet's efforts to ram light rail through, despite residents' wishes.
Meanwhile, to fund their glorious rail projects, the agency continues to gut bus services and raise fares in order to pay operating costs.
Interestingly, the agency was formed after "leaders" at the city of Portland got their panties in a twist because the Rose City Transit company proposed raising fares by a nickel. How times have changed!
