BORING — TriMet's Board of Directors voted unanimously today to release Boring from the transportation agency's service, a move that will save the unincorporated area's business owners more than half a million dollars per year in taxes.

The move comes after a group of business owners filed a petition in September with the support of hundreds of residents. Petitioners argued that with about 8,000 Boring residents, the average four riders who use the bus service per day — only about one of those boarding or departing in Boring — don't justify the $600,000 business owners pay in taxes to for the service, especially since more than half of Boring’s residents live at least half a mile from a stop.

Previous Coverage

The bus

at 7:35 a.m. and 5:20 p.m. and leave the Southeast School Avenue and Fireman Way stop in Boring at 7:49 a.m. and 5:36 p.m., which those who support the withdrawal say is insufficient to rely on the service for transportation.

TriMet also provides a paratransit lift system that offers about 8,500 rides per year to 26 people, and board members and residents have expressed concerns that those residents will be put at a disadvantage by the withdrawal. However, other agencies that serve the Portland metro area will be able to serve the current paratransit customers in Boring.

During today's meeting, board members expressed sympathy for those in Boring who pay taxes and receive little or no benefit from the agency's service.

Board member Steve Clark talked about the TriMet board's commitment to creating a community culture and improve transportation services. Though he is saddened by the idea of reducing service to an area, he said, TriMet and the Boring and Kelso areas are not a good fit for one another.

"We have to very seriously imagine doing what we did not sign up to do. We did not sign up to take away service. We signed up to improve service," Clark said. "But in this case, I think it is the best judgment to move away from what we do not do well for a community that is very rural."

The withdrawal will take effect in January of 2013, making Boring the sixth Clackamas County area to withdraw from TriMet service. The others are Wilsonville, Damascus, Molalla, Canby and Sandy.

For the year until Boring's release, TriMet has agreed to work with Clackamas County on making the transition a smooth one and helping Boring and its residents determine alternative means of transportation for the disabled people who use paratransit and medical ride services.

But despite the work ahead, chief petitioner Stephen Bates said the decision is a win for Boring — and it proves the power of the area's residents.

"It shows democracy does work," Bates said. "The people of Boring exercised their rights, and they were rewarded for their efforts."

—