AE.ROSE.1826.MB_1964524.JPG

A series of switch and signal problems has created massive delays for MAX riders.

(The Oregonian/2004)

After one of the worst weeks for MAX light-rail commuters in recent memory,

General Manager Neil McFarlane announced Monday that he is reorganizing the agency's operations division to provide greater focus on reliability.

Starting next week, McFarlane will move responsibility for the maintenance of the bus and rail systems from Shelly Lomax, the current executive director of operations, to a newly created division. Current maintenance director Tom Nielsen will over see the new maintenance division.

“We are growing the transit system at the same time we’re managing an aging system,” McFarlane said. “This requires us to be even more focused on our vehicle and track system to deliver more reliable service to our riders.”

The announcement comes a

on downtown Portland's 101-year-old Steel Bridge, which is a critical but increasingly unreliable link in the heart of the region's light-rail system.

As

, only 40 percent of MAX trains were on time on Oct. 24, according to data provided by TriMet.

"We're trying to get away from 'wait until there's a problem and then respond to it,'" said Angela Murphy, a TriMet spokeswoman. "We want to do a better job at preventative maintenance and plan out improvements so we don't see those lag times."

Murphy said the reshuffling of duties doesn't amount to a demotion for Lomax,

. Rather, she said, the general manager wanted to "lighten the load" on Lomax, a former TriMet bus driver who has until now been charged with overseeing the entire operations division.

&amp;lt;a href="http://polldaddy.com/poll/7534761/"&amp;gt;Do you think TriMet General Manager Neil McFarlane's big operations shakeup will help the MAX trains run on time?&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;

Both Lomax and Nielsen will report to interim Deputy General Manager Bob Nelson.

The change does not add any new staff or expenses, TriMet

. The position of director of transportation operations, recently vacated through the retirement of Hayden Talbot, will not be filled and those responsibilities will be shifted to Lomax.

She will also oversee the Command Center and field operations, LIFT, WES commuter rail, operations training and service delivery.

However, Bruce Hansen, president of

, said he was skeptical of the plan, especially TriMet's claim about no additional costs.

In the past,

, saying the position wouldn't be needed if McFarlane diverted some of his focus on opening the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail line to dealing with the existing system's problems.

"I think there's going to definitely be something in there that will increase staff and salaries for executives," Hansen said.

He encouraged this reporter to take another look in the new year at whether McFarlane is giving out

. There is no evidence that he is. In fact, McFarlane recently said non-union workers would not receive raises during the current fiscal year and promised that all future non-union raises would be open to public review.

on Monday, McFarlane wrote: "I believe these organizational changes will position us to better account for our performance, accept responsibility for the results, and provide more transparent decision-making. A sharpened focus on accountability will help us manage our business efficiently and deliver improved outcomes for our customers, our employees, and our stakeholders. "

McFarlane also noted that parts of the MAX system are nearly 30 years old, requiring increased investment to maintain reliable service. "Recent disruptions caused by aging infrastructure demonstrate a need for more focus on the maintenance of trains, signals and switches," TriMet said in its public statement.

Days after the recent MAX meltdown that made thousands of commuters late for work and getting home, TriMet announced it would make $2.5 million in track and switch improvements throughout the system over the next year and a half.

Additionally, over the next 2 1/2 years, $585,000 in federal grant money will be used to replace and improve signals, gate mechanisms and other electrical systems, TriMet said.

On Monday, McFarlane promised his changes will improve the agency’s service. “Riders will see a difference,” he said.

-- Joseph Rose