Two weeks after TriMet approved

-- and eliminated a program to subsidize free youth passes, a favorite of Portland Mayor Sam Adams -- Adams is striking back by proposing an 8,000 percent fee increase to

for benches and shelters.

The move would force TriMet to pay Portland about $2 million a year, money that neither the city nor TriMet budgeted. That's identical to costs previously identified by TriMet to maintain free trips for high school students enrolled in Portland Public Schools. Adams' plan is to use that money to pay for youth passes.

TriMet General Manager Neil McFarlane learned about the city's plan for the first time last week in a meeting with Adams at City Hall, agency spokeswoman Mary Fetsch said Monday.

"We're surprised by it," Fetsch said. "And obviously with our budget challenges, where we just cut $12 million -- including fare increases and service cuts -- this could mean more fare increases and service cuts."

Adams said Monday that he had an informal "handshake agreement" with McFarlane that the city would support eliminating free rail trips, expected to generate $2.7 million in revenue. In exchange, he said, TriMet was expected to maintain passes for high school students.

Adams said transit officials walked away from the agreement. Fetsch confirmed an informal deal that still needed board approval, but said TriMet was working toward contributing only one-third of costs.

"Sometimes you have to play hardball. It's sad given our previous good relations with TriMet," Adams said. "The youth pass program is very important to the continuation of our school reform effort."

Officials with the Portland Bureau of Transportation on Monday did not respond to questions about the plan, other than to confirm the proposed increases. The

. If approved, it would take effect immediately.

Adams said he didn't know if the City Council would support his plan but said the city can no longer afford to "subsidize" TriMet. Adams blamed TriMet buses for "the damage they do to our roads."

Although Adams contends he's playing public hardball with TriMet's board of directors, who he said may not have understood the ramifications of their budget, his proposal has been anything but transparent.

The proposal would amend just two fees out of more than 80 approved by the City Council a month ago.

The ordinance and supporting city documentation explains that "a fee related to encroachments and use of right of way" has been revised and would increase city revenue by about $2 million. But it fails to identify the specific fees or that TriMet would be responsible for paying it. Those details can only be determined by

, which was not included among the public documents in the City Council packet.

Last month, Portland officials approved an existing "annual permit fee" of $20 a year for each TriMet bench or shelter that features advertising, while those without advertising are free.

The new proposal calls for an "annual permit fee for street impact" of $1,650 for all benches or shelters outside downtown, regardless of advertising. That's an 8,150 percent increase.

TriMet has 1,219 benches or shelters beyond downtown, enough to account for the full $2 million in new revenue Adams is chasing.

Adams also wants to charge TriMet a fee of $459 for every bench or shelter installed in the future.

Those numbers have shifted from details originally provided to TriMet in a June 20 letter from Adams, who oversees the Transportation Bureau. In that letter, Adams contended that TriMet needed to pay new and higher fees because "pavement rutting and shoving damage at bus stops is directly caused by buses stopping and starting."

TriMet attorneys are reviewing the proposal, Fetsch said, to determine its legality.

Fetsch said maintaining the youth program -- which serves about 13,000 Portland high school students -- would cost nearly $2.9 million this year. TriMet officials in February, as the agency prepared for budget cuts, said

.

On June 13, TriMet's board of directors unanimously approved a budget that increased ticket prices, eliminated low-ridership bus routes and ended free light-rail trips in downtown and the Lloyd district. The youth program died.

Adams' proposal is "concerning," said Jonathan Ostar, executive director for the

. Ostar's group proposed its own TriMet budget two weeks ago hoping to prevent cuts and preserve funding for youth passes.

Ostar doubted the practicality of charging TriMet for shelter and bench investments that strengthen the transit system. He also questioned how TriMet could come up with the money.

"I think it's admirable that the mayor wants to find a solution to youth pass to maintain it," he said. "I don't think this is the sustainable solution. It seems to just put a Band-Aid on this."

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