Will Fareless Square end? Nope..

[Waterbuffalo]

Thought some might be interested in this story from the Portland Tribune that the head of Trimet is proposing to stop the fareless square in its current form now. But only for 7am to 7pm, so its still going to be in force... Guess you might say I think they need to go back to the drawing board.

Here is the article I was reading: http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=119697765364065800

[Chief]

I read this article completely this morning. It's nice to see that Trimet is finally getting a clue, after years of people telling them what a bad idea Farless Square always was. Doing away with FS would be the single biggest improvement to overall security that Trimet could make for Downtown, and it soulds like Fred Hansen is ready to start moving in that direction.

Now that won't do anything immediately for the problems along Max out in Gresham, but it sure sends the right message. And who knows, maybe charging fares for everyone might provide some of the money they need for security cameras and more fare inspectors...

[Waterbuffalo]

If you read the article, it does state fareless square is still on the board from 7am til 7pm.. Now if they could do away with it all together that might cure some of the panhandling and other problems downtown.

[Chief]

Toward the end of the article it quotes Hansen as saying that they will be moving toward considering doing away with it completely. They aren't there yet, but it is certainly being discussed.

[Waterbuffalo]

If its being discussed in a small forum, you can bet they'll just keep it in some form. Wonder why it was even brought into being?

[Waterbuffalo]

Here is the same basic story from the Portland tribune that I posted earlier but there are some updates to it in case you want to go back to it..


Free transit rides may end TriMet chief says criminals exploiting honor system
By Jim Redden

The Portland Tribune, Dec 7, 2007, Updated Dec 8, 2007 (84 Reader comments)

"Free rides on the MAX train within Fareless Square would be limited from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. under a resolution to be considered by the TriMet board of directors in January.

TriMet General Manager Fred Hansen announced he would submit such a proposal to the board on Friday.

“The fact is, Fareless Square provides a free ride for panhandlers, who go back and forth between downtown and the Lloyd Center, and drug dealers and rowdy gangs of young people, homeless people and drunks who are using the train as a shelter and a place to do their business,” said Hansen, who also announced the launch of a public process to solicit views on other possible changes to the operation of the square, which covers most of downtown and parts of the Lloyd District."

Please take a look for the full updated article here: http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=119697765364065800