After more than three months of public comment and controversy, the TriMet board of directors voted Wednesday to raise fares by 5 cents and to reduce service on about 50 bus lines.

Two lines also will be eliminated.

Citing low ridership and proximity to other routes, TriMet directors voted unanimously to discontinue the No. 27 Market/

Main and No. 157 Happy Valley lines. Dozens of other bus and MAX lines will run less frequently.

The move to raise fares, however, was not as easily approved. After a period of public comment raised several questions from board members, the board seemed to the entertain the idea of tabling the ordinance until its June meeting. However, the measure eventually passed 5-1.

"It's a difficult balancing act we're trying to do," said new TriMet Board President Rick Van Beveren, who was appointed to the position Wednesday. "I assure you no one on the board, whether elected or appointed, likes to be in this position."

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The changes come in the wake of TriMet's $27 million budget shortfall, which officials have attributed to the recession. It has resulted in falling passenger revenues, rising employee costs and a loss of payroll tax revenue.

Although the board has taken other measures to reduce costs, including a salary and hiring freeze and the use of federal stimulus funds, the service reductions and fee increases have drawn the most attention.

Since the changes were first proposed in February, TriMet has been flooded with public reaction. About 1,800 public comments were received during a three-month period that was also marked by three public hearings, according to TriMet spokeswoman Mary Fetsch. That resulted in some modifications to the reduction plan.

Originally, four lines had been placed on the chopping block, and weekend service on three other lines faced elimination or significant reduction. TriMet instead opted to decrease service in portions of the lines with low ridership rather than discontinue entire routes.

"We had a whole series of places where people said, 'I need this to get to work, I need this to get to school,' so we ended up making numerous modifications," TriMet general manager Fred Hansen said.

Still, the cuts come on the heels of similar changes made to address the $31 million deficit in last year's budget, which eventually resulted in service reductions and the elimination of four lines.

TriMet last raised fares in September 2008, and expects this increase, which brings the all-zone fare to $2.35 for bus, MAX and Westside Express Service, to generate about $1.5 million in revenue. The increase and route changes go into effect in September.

Some TriMet riders said Wednesday that although they were disappointed, they understood the pressures TriMet faces.

"It's one of those things where everything just gets more expensive," said Scott Killen, who uses the bus five days a week. "It'll add up for people with monthly passes, but hopefully it won't be that bad."

Traci Chenette, who rides the bus and MAX, said she was more concerned with the altered routes than the fare raise.

"For me, if it keeps service at its present level, I can absorb a nickel -- but I do worry about people who can't," she said. "Route changes worry me because it might make it harder for me to get to work and the places I need to go."

Hansen assured the board that, should additional revenue become available, the eliminated services could be restored and fares reduced, if the board approved.

Hansen, who will be replaced by Neil McFarlane after he retires in June, also promised members of the public and board officials improvement in another area: safety. Before Wednesday's vote, he addressed safety concerns, many of which arose after an April bus crash killed two pedestrians in downtown Portland.

Both Hansen and Van Beveren said a full safety review was being conducted by the agency and that some improvements, including limits on unscheduled courtesy stops, have been implemented.

David Sale, the father of 22-year-old Danielle Sale, who was killed in the crash, spoke to the TriMet board about the urgent need for improvement. "I'm going to continue to fight for this because it's wrong what I go through each day," Sale said.

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