appears to be on the verge of a historic restructuring of bus and train fares to deal with its latest budget crisis, including eliminating zones and single-ticket round trips.

According to documents obtained by The Oregonian, a behind-closed-doors budget task force this week recommended that TriMet switch to a systemwide $2.50 flat-rate adult fare. That would be the end of the line for the agency's longstanding zoned rates.

The new flat-rate ticket would also be one-way only. "Making a return trip on a one-way fare is not allowed," an outline from the proposed fare restructuring reads. "Transfers are good for two hours in one direction only."

General Manager Neil McFarlane formed the 12-member budget task force to recommend ways to deal with an expected $12 million to $17 million shortfall during the next fiscal year.

Because the group reports internally to McFarlane, its meetings are closed to the public, said TriMet spokeswoman Mary Fetsch.

But Cynthia Chilton, chairwoman of the budget committee, verified that the fare plan sent to The Oregonian is part of a package of recommendations being sent to the general manager.

McFarlane will unveil his proposed changes to balance the budget on Feb. 8, three days before a series of public open houses in Portland and the suburbs. TriMet is also expected to propose eliminating the free-rail zone for MAX.

"From the get-go, the task force members have felt it's important to avoid any further service reductions," Chilton said. The task force also had a difficult time finding more ways to improve internal efficiencies, she said. "They're hands were pretty tied by the labor contract."

So, the task force has concentrated on restructuring fares, Chilton said.

Under the group's plan, a one-way youth fare would be $1.65, compared to the current $1.50 all-zones ticket. "Honored citizens" would pay $1 to go one way or $2 for a day pass.

Monthly passes, meanwhile, would be $100 for adults (an $8 jump) and $30 for youths (a $3 increase). The monthly Honored Citizen pass would remain $26.

Riders who pay per ride at the fare box would experience the biggest changes.

Currently, TriMet riders can pay $2.10 for a two-zone ticket to run quick errands and return home. Under the task force's plan, that wouldn't be an option.

Instead, a "short hop" round trip on local transit would require people to either buy a second ticket going the other way or pay $5 for a day pass at the beginning of the journey.

"They're essentially trying to force everyone to buy a day pass," said Jonathan Ostar, executive director of OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon, which organized the Bus Riders Unite rider's union.

OPAL has for months been working with TriMet to study extending transfer times on buses and trains to three hours.

Bus transfers – the flimsy pieces of paper that drivers hand riders when they pay their fare – allow riders about 1 1/2 hours to catch another bus or train. MAX riders get two hours.

With the task force now proposing a two-hour, one-way limit on transfers, Ostar wondered if TriMet was ever sincere about looking at extended transfer times. "Instead, they're limiting the range of options for average riders to play budget balancing," he said.

But the task force's fare proposal, Chilton insists, was designed to be more fair to the transit-dependent and low-income residents for whom OPAL is fighting.

Chilton said the group studied the commuting patterns of low-income riders, who have migrated from central Portland to the city's edges and suburbs in recent years.

Also, she said, poorer riders are less likely to buy monthly passes, TriMet research shows. A TriMet day pass is already $5.

"A lot of the rational of using zones was the further you travel the more you pay," Chilton said. "But now, those traveling the furthest, from Gresham or Hillsboro, tend to be low-income folks paying the higher fare. That seemed to be upside down."

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FLAT FARES & DAY PASS

(under consideration)

One-Way Round Trip/1-Day Pass

w/ 2 Hr Transfer* (Unlimited trips) Monthly & 30- day

Adult .............................$2.50.................. $5..................................... $100

Youth.............................$1.65 ..................$3.30................................ $30

Honored citizen.............$1 .......................$2...................................... $26

Percent of cash trips ...18 percent ............ 82 percent

*Making a return trip on a one-way fare is not allowed. Transfers are good for 2 hours in one direction only

Source:

TriMet