Due to a severe staffing shortage, TriMet must temporarily reduce bus service.
With employee attrition and not enough applicants to meet the expected hiring goals, TriMet says it is facing the most significant operator shortfall in agency history.
Starting Jan. 9, 2022, TriMet will reduce current bus service levels by about nine percent. This will bring service back to the level TriMet adopted in April of 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency apologizes to riders as it would much rather be expanding service, but by taking this step, it increases the schedule reliability so riders experience less canceled or late buses.
Reductions will happen on 20 of TriMet’s 84 bus lines. Details of which lines will be affected are on TriMet’s website.
TriMet focused the adjustments on maintaining service in areas with high concentrations of people with low incomes and communities of color, while providing connections to education, job, health care and service centers.
All the changes are to weekday bus service. Most lines will follow the same service levels that were provided on Saturdays prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. For Frequent Service Lines, this generally means buses will arrive about every 15 minutes during the busiest travel times of the day. Other reductions to weekend bus, MAX and WES service made in April 2020 remain in effect.
Service expansion
One bus line will get additional service. All trips on Line 32-Oatfield will run between Clackamas Community College in Oregon City and Downtown Milwaukie. This adjustment expands weekend service on Line 32 to include areas between Oregon City and Milwaukie that are served on weekdays.
Riders are encouraged to look online and plan a trip on or after Jan. 9 to see how the service plan will affect their ride, as connection and transfer times may change.
LIFT paratransit service
LIFT paratransit service may also be affected by these service reductions. LIFT riders may experience longer ride times or differences in desired pickup or drop-off times as a result, as the LIFT program provides service the same days and times as our fixed-route bus service. The LIFT Customer Service is prepared to help riders navigate these changes.
