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TriMet has submitted a proposal to keep the YouthPass program for high schoolers in Portland Public Schools.

(The Oregonian)

TriMet has submitted a plan to continue providing free passes to high schoolers in Portland Public Schools during the next school year, while reducing youth fares to assist students in the region's other districts.

Under a plan presented to the TriMet board of directors during a Wednesday briefing, Oregon's largest transit agency has proposed splitting the cost of the $2.9 million YouthPass program evenly with the school district and the city.

That would require larger contributions by the school district and, especially, City Hall, according to the document. Last year, TriMet says it agreed to contribute $1.6 million, or about 55 percent, to the program, compared to $400,000 from the city and about $950,000 from PPS.

There is no formal agreement, but Carole Smith, PPS superintendent, has already said she is interested in an even split. Two weeks ago, General Manager Neil McFarlane and Portland Mayor Charlie Hales met to discuss the plan, according to the mayor's schedule.

Hales has not commented on the TriMet proposal. However, the mayor's proposed budget calls for an additional $600,000 to go into YouthPass.

PPS is currently the only district that provides its high school students with free TriMet passes during the school year, partly because the district provides school bus service to only elementary and middle schoolers. Supporters say the program is essential to boosting low graduation rates.

Last fall, a survey commissioned by the school district showed that nearly 80 percent of students who took part had recently ridden TriMet. About two-thirds said they regularly used TriMet to get to school.

About 12,600 PPS high school students take TriMet to get to class.

Meanwhile, in an apparent attempt to satisfy critics who say it's not fair for the regional transportation service to subsidize only one school district, TriMet has proposed restructuring all youth fares.

"We have coming to you a very good answer to that and something that will do some major good" for the entire region, McFarlane told the board during a briefing.

Under the plan, the cost of a monthly youth pass would drop from $30 to $28. A single-ride fare would be reduced 40 cents to $1.25, half the cost of an adult ticket.

"It will land us at a place where we don't believe there will be any additional costs to the TriMet budget," said Drew Blevins, TriMet's director of marketing and customer information.

Started in 2008, the program was once subsidized by tax credits. When the credits dried up, TriMet threatened to end it, but PPS and City Hall agreed to pay more to keep YouthPass alive.

According to the TriMet proposal, the school district and city will once again be required to pay more.

Next school year, each partner would be required to cover $966,000.

That's a savings of $634,000 for TriMet, which would help the agency cover the $775,000 revenue hit from reducing all youth fares, Blevins said.

He said the agency also plans to offset the remaining cost by using an uncommitted $140,000 from a special fund to help low-income riders.

A first reading of the proposal is scheduled for May 28, with a vote by the TriMet board expected June 11.

Board member Consualo Saragoza, however, encouraged TriMet managers to reach out to as many school districts as possible in the region, especially outside Portland's urban core.

"I don't think it's going to be clear cut like we do here in Portland," she said. "Those other school districts may have factors we may need to look at."

-- Andrew Theen of The Oregonian contributed to this report.

-- Joseph Rose