TriMet board approves fare increase starting in 2024

PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) - The Trimet Board of Directors voted 6-1 on Wednesday to increase fares beginning Jan. 1, 2024.

Trimet says they haven’t raised the price of a ticket since 2012 and that the funds will go to improving services.

Roberta Altstadt, a spokesperson for TriMet, says the pandemic relief funding they received is running out.

“We were looking towards a fare deficit, and they understood that we needed to take action now,” Altstadt says.

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The decision followed some dramatic moments when riders had a chance to sound off about the price hike and forced the board to vote in another room.

“We really understand that there’s a lot of emotion about this and we appreciate riders caring about the system,” Altstadt says. “When it’s so disruptive it’s trying to block the process it’s trying to block the vote that’s really challenging for our board and for us to try to do our business.”

Lee Helfend with Bus Riders Unite says the board didn’t want to face their constituents at the meeting.

“The tension that exists was already in our communities. It wasn’t just about the tension in the room today,” Helfend says. “Even though we had a great showing today, they had to live their daily lives so we saw them intentionally stalling the vote.”

The fare hike means just another financial burden for the community, Helfend says.

“That means that people can’t necessarily make it to doctors appointments,” Helfend says. “People can’t make it to work people, can’t make it to school.”

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Other TriMet riders say the rising price is reasonable.

“Thirty cents really isn’t something, I mean, for me that’s not really a big deal,” says John Ramsey.

New price fares:

• Adult 2 ½ Hour Ticket: up 30 cents to $2.80
• Honored Citizen 2 ½ Hour Ticket: up 15 cents to $1.40
• Youth 2 ½ Hour Ticket: up 15 cents to $1.40
• LIFT paratransit Single Ride Ticket: up 30 cents to $2.80

An all-day pass would still be the cost of two tickets:

• Adult Day Pass: up 60 cents to $5.60
• Honored Citizen Day Pass: up 30 cents to $2.80
• Youth Day Pass: up 30 cents to $2.80

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