Trimet plans to eliminate bus service on SW Fairview in 2022. If you value public transportation in Arlington Heights please attend Trimet’s Open House February 10, 2020 from 5 to 6 p.m. Register at this link. Also consider writing a letter to Trimet about why the 63 Bus is an asset for our neighborhood. Now is the final comment period for Trimet’s proposed transit changes for 2022.
You can view TriMet’s October 28, 2020 presentation about proposed bus route changes at TriMet.org. The first Comment Period ended November 9 but we expect another early in 2021 (this is now) and will post information when we have it. Thank you to neighbors who contacted TriMet (in 2020) to oppose this Bus 63 route change.
TriMet proposes a new route for the 63 bus that affects Arlington Heights’ access to public transit. The proposed change may reduce vehicle congestion near the rose garden but it further reduces Arlington Heights residents’ access to public transportation at the same time the City of Portland encourages reduced reliance on cars.
TriMet accepted comments at Trimet.org by clicking the “Leave Feedback” button. TriMet held Vision 2021 virtual town hall events on Facebook to explain all its proposed bus route changes by RSVP to TriMet’s Facebook Live events Wednesday, October 28 at 5 p.m. (in English) and October 29 (in Spanish) at either of the links above.
The new 63 bus route will take riders from Kingston to Pioneer Courthouse Square and eliminate service on Fairview to the Oregon Zoo Max station. Explore Washington Park pledges to expand shuttle service to fill the gap, but before 9 a.m. there will be no public transit options along Fairview for commuters or high school students in Arlington Heights, and the early morning 63 bus schedule is unclear.
Representatives from TriMet and Explore Washington Park attended the Arlington Heights Neighborhood Association Board meeting October 12 where they explained the proposal and heard neighbors’ questions and concerns. TriMet expects the new downtown destination will be attractive to park visitors thereby reducing traffic and parking congestion in the Kingston Avenue area. Until a few years ago the 63 Bus ran twice an hour from the Zoo Max station to Pioneer Courthouse Square. After the schedule and route were reduced to their current level Bus 63 ridership declined significantly according to the 2019 TriMet survey.
The proposed change may reduce vehicle congestion near the rose garden but it further reduces Arlington Heights residents’ access to public transportation at the same time the City of Portland encourages reduced reliance on cars.
The Arlington Heights Neighborhood Association Board encourages you to learn more about this issue and comment to TriMet.