TriMet outlines $300 million shortfall and a plan that could alter service to Tualatin

TriMet general manager Sam DSouz Jr. told the Tualatin City Council on Feb. 9 that the agency faces about a $300,000,000 budget shortfall and is pursuing administrative cuts, new revenue and service reductions to close the gap by July 1, 2028. The presentation, led by DSouz and service director Tom Mills, laid out specific proposals that would change several routes serving Tualatin.

"One of our most challenging parts of this conversation is a proposal to cut service," DSouz said, and he emphasized TriMets effort to engage partners and the public since announcing proposals on Jan. 5. JC Veneta and Tom Mills described the fiscal drivers behind the proposals: pandemic-era ridership loss that reduced farebox revenue (TriMet estimates about $60,000,000 lost annually since the pandemic), rising operating costs and a decline in payroll tax receipts.

Mills said the package aims to achieve roughly 10 percent in service reductions systemwide and that an initial proposal accounts for about 6.5 percent of that goal. "We are faced with a about a $300,000,000 budget deficit that we have made the decision to solve by 07/01/2028," Mills said. The three areas TriMet is concentrating on are administrative cuts (at least $93,000,000), new sustainable revenue (minimum $48,000,000) and service reductions (targeting the remaining savings).

On details affecting Tualatin, Mills identified several lines under consideration. Line 97 (TualatinSherwood Road) was singled out for its low productivity during recent counts: "Line 97 ... we're only getting 3 rides per vehicle hour, and it's costing us almost $49 a ride," Mills said. TriMet initially proposed eliminating some low-ridership lines but then offered an alternate plan to preserve Line 97 by reconfiguring operations: connect Line 38 to Line 97 to use operator layover time more efficiently and reduce Line 94s frequency from every 20 minutes to every 30 minutes, reallocating those savings to sustain Line 97.

TriMet also described potential changes to Line 76 (which serves Meridian Park Hospital and downtown Tualatin) and Line 96 (which runs to Wilsonville during peak periods) and said it is coordinating with SMART (Wilsonville) and Ride Connection to reduce duplication and maintain access. The agency stressed that service changes will be evaluated for equity: Mills said TriMet will perform a Title VI analysis, required by the Federal Transit Administration, to assess disproportionate burdens on low-income or minority riders.

Councilors and residents raised concerns about access to essential services. Councilor Hillier pressed TriMet on how changes might affect students, noting local high-school travel and after-school activities; other councilors asked about access to health care, the food pantry at Rolling Hills Community Church and county seats in Washington and Clackamas counties. Residents told councilors they had experienced late or missing buses at specific stops.

TriMet offered a public process and timeline: TriMet will publish a revised proposal on March 11, hold a board listening session March 18, have a first reading of implementing ordinance March 25 and schedule a board vote April 22; the agency expects to implement changes in late August to avoid mid-school-year disruptions. Officials said they would continue outreach, including multilingual materials and open houses, and follow up with councilors about local concerns. DSouz invited stories from council members to support TriMet advocacy for additional funding.

What happens next: TriMet will release the revised proposal March 11 and hold public- and board-level hearings in March and April before the agency votes on the package; implementation is projected for late August."