TriMet's board of directors on Wednesday advanced a $1.2 billion budget that would increase service, launch the agency's Hop Fastpass electronic fare system and improve system reliability.

There's no fare increase, but it does include an additional $24.1 million in payroll tax receipts -- a 7.1 percent increase -- partially due to the higher tax rate being phased in through 2026, and partially due to higher wages. The agency expects fare revenue to remain essentially flat.

The spending plan would:

Expand bus service: The budget would add 1,600 hours a week in bus service, a 4.1 percent increase. Nearly 300 of those hours would simply to make up for delays from increased congestion. The budget also would replace 42 older buses and add 15 new buses to the fleet.

Increase maintenance staff: The proposal calls for adding 34 maintenance employees and six trainers in an effort to improve reliability. The agency also would continue working to shore up its aging rail system and prevent delays.

Pay off Orange Line debt: $100 million of the budget comes from the federal government to pay off the cost of building the Orange Line, which was completed in 2015.

One line item caught the ire of the transit advocacy group Opal Environmental Justice Oregon: $10 million to relocate the Transit Police Division from its Old Town precinct in Portland to a space near the Oregon Convention Center.

It comes as TriMet looks for $11 million a year to cover reduced fares for low-income riders.

"It is clear based on your budget proposal that TriMet values are not aligned with the values of our community," said David Bouchard, a leader of Opal's Bus Riders Unite. "We want TriMet to demonstrate a commitment to keeping transit more accessible and affordable instead of criminalizing low-income riders."

TriMet said the move would save money in the long run, because it would not pay rent for the new space, and that it would not pay for new police officers. The budget does, however, call for adding staff for fare inspection.

The group also advocated for more service -- including on weekends -- on a new bus line that would serve 162nd Avenue in East Portland and Gresham.

TriMet's fiscal 2018 budget, which would take effect July 1, now goes to the Multnomah County Tax Supervising and Conservation Commission. It then returns to TriMet's board for final approval May 24.

Others showed up to testify against comments made by TriMet General Manager Neil McFarlane, who pressed for a regional funding initiative that would fund three freeway projects as well as TriMet's Southwest Corridor light-rail project.

Jessica Engelman of the cycling advocacy group BikeLoudPDX said that TriMet has lent credibility to those promoting the highway projects, which she said would run counter to the region's anti-climate change goals.

"We need to start moving forward to make up for the lack of progress we've had for decades," Engelman said. "We have some amazing growing pains in the city right now, and we need bold solutions right now."

TriMet has eyed the highway projects as a way to win broad support for a funding package that would include its Southwest Corridor project.

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-- Elliot Njus

enjus@oregonian.com

503-294-5034

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