Alternatives to Powell Garage Employee Shuttles
Regarding TriMet Board Resolution 18-12-80
Testimony given in response to TriMet Board Resolution 18-12-80, which authorized a contract with a private company to shuttle employees to/from Powell Garage while construction took up on-site parking
First of all, it is good to see this project as my understanding that Powell is cramped for operators, mechanics and soon (if not now) bus parking. For example, I believe that operators do not have access to showers and the fitness center has been housed in a temporary trailer.
SP+ (formerly Standard Parking) is not a local company, and TriMet would be paying their overhead expenses, the same tasks which TriMet already performs, as well as presumably a profit. In addition, their vehicles and employees would presumably not be based at Powell Garage like TriMet employees could be and would have to deadhead to and from their site.
- MAX Green Line: It runs just as often as the proposed shuttle service the majority of the time, and should be just as fast from Main St given the inability for a bus to use the freeway, especially southbound due the turn toward from the ramp towards the garage being banned
- Incentivize and organize car, van pools: Some of the expense proposed in the resolution could instead be given to employees as a stipend for picking up 3 others or leasing vans. These vehicles could possibly be allowed to park in the bus yard if space permits.
- 911 and church lots: TriMet currently has agreements to use the parking lots at New Beginnings Church and the city's emergency communications facility, both of which are located across the street from the garage, and presumably could be continued to be used
- ODOT stockpile site: Directly in front of the garage is a piece of property that is being used for a pile of gravel and some chemicals. These could easily be relocated, such as to the inside of the Foster/Woodstock interchange
- Bowling alley lot: King Pins Entertainment Center on SE 92nd has a large parking lot that they may be willing to agree to lease some spaces in. There is also some vacant land across the street from there that could also be looked into.
- Internal temporary employees: If shuttle service is indeed needed, TriMet should be able to run it itself. TriMet could work with the union (if necessary) and have the position be a special, temporary one. After all, the employees would not be handling the general public and the route is very short. In addition, only a van should be needed since operator shifts and therefore demand should be spread out. Retirees could also be considered.
- Existing part-time employees: Add shuttle shifts to part-time runs to turn them into full time ones. Doing so would use already benefited and paid-for employees. A few peak-period split shifts could be split up and have shuttle work attached to before or afterwards.
- Late night taxis: If there is a period late at night when few employees are arriving or leaving, consider calling for taxis to take them to/from the park-and-ride lot instead of having the shuttle run empty.
- In the short time, use existing extra board operators: This may be expensive, but would allow on-site parking to be removed as planned
Also regarding Resolution 18-12-85, look into having a property management firm that can lease the Columbia Blvd site until it's needed, e.g. for vehicle or material storage. This could generate some income and turn the liability into an asset.