CRC Bridge Solution

Because the people we pay millions of dollars to find a solution can't find a good one, I'll just give you one for free.

Build a separate bridge. You're planning on making one alongside the highway bridge anyway. Have it run parallel to the river for awhile so it can ramp up to go across at a high level and a grade the MAX can climb. Do the opposite on the other side.

You surely have two problems with this:
   (1) This will cost more.
   (2) This will make an inconvenience for riders to
         take time to make the loop.

But I answer with these suggestions:
   (1) The longer you government people take to bicker
         about the bridge being too low, you could have
         built this by itself and be running MAX across it.
         And it would probably cost less than being tied in
         with CRC.
   (2) I ride the Blue Line around the loopty-loop at
         Sunset TC all the time. I'm used to it. We have
         another in the Red Line looping under itself at
         Gateway. I don't hear people complaining about
         either of these.

Problem solved. And you just saved millions in the planning phase by reading this here.
 

Like Night and Day

TriMet's wonderful! TriMet's awful! Which is correct?

Look at comments on TriMet's Facebook posts. Search for #trimet on Twitter and read the tweets that come up. Ask your friends about what they think about TriMet. It is clear that the public approval of TriMet is waning. People are getting more and more frustrated by the unreliability, the crowded trains and buses, and the other undesirable aspects that we all know so well.

But, you also see a lot of people writing about how wonderful TriMet is. These positive comments usually follow TriMet's Facebook posts and are intermixed with other people's complaints and Erik Halstead's extreme calls for radical change (which are warranted but unrealistic; but that's worthy of its own post.)

But the question remains: why the severe discrepancy in these opinions? Which is correct?

Well, both. You see, it totally depends upon the lense you are viewing it through.

We bloggers incessantly inundate you with all the things that go wrong with TriMet. I think we do this for two reasons: (1) it's fun to nitpick and get attention for it, and (2) it's true! We know this because we are experts in the field of TriMet, and it doesn't take much digging to find the dirt we uncover. Many casual riders who couldn't tell you the difference between the three definitions of 'block' are completely oblivious to the issues that go on, and are perfectly content to stay that way until their 1400-series bus breaks down going down I-5 on a 95-degree day. Then, they may get a taste of this reality.

If we know it's this bad, why are there so many people who think TriMet is the best? Either they are such optimists that they would still be smiling if an opossum pooped on their foot, or there is something else at play here. Look closely at the comments. What's the common pattern? They are comparative. Almost all of the comments are worded something like, "TriMet is SOO much better than Dallas" or Phoenix or Washington DC, or wherever. Although they don't see the problems that we who have been around Portland for awhile see, they do see all the good things that we do have, and are thankful for it.

TriMet has its problems, that is for sure. But sometimes it's easy to forget how good we have it compared to other cities. That's why I'm fighting for it, because I don't want the good in it to die at the hands of someone who doesn't have the best interests of the agency at heart. But it can be better. And I hope the trend turns in that direction soon.

Hang On

Hang on, TriMet fighters. There's breakthrough is a-comin' and you don't wanna be left outside.

Change is in the air: trust me. The tide is turning, and victory is in sight.

But the war can't be won if there is division among the cavalry. Internal bickering and fighting only places power back in the hands of the very force that we're trying to disarm.

We are all people from different backgrounds. We have different tactics, different reasons for fighting, even different political views. We are motivated by different reasons. But we all have a common goal: to get our beloved transit agency back.

Believe it or not, but I have issues with all of you people. There's something about your personalities, tendencies, and/or tactics that frustrates me. HOWEVER, I'll save that until after we've won. I can look past those problems. That's because I'm looking to the goal.

Unlike TriMet, there is little that unites us. We are not being given a paycheck by the same company. The other side is very strong, because they actually have an established existence. This little club isn't even a real club; it's just a bunch of people who have a strange hobby or other connection (like former employee) that makes us all run into each other a lot on Twitter. I mean, the fact that this movement even has power is incredible.

But the reason why this is happening is because we all want the same thing. And the common goal has gotten so important that we put aside our differences (and differences of opinion) to see this through to the end. If someone has a problem with that and can't stand strong, then they won't be helpful to the cause.

I am taking a team processes class right now. Teams are made up of different people, all with different talents and skills. Some are good at standing on soapboxes. Some are good at holding signs and making posters. Some are even good at, I don't know, blogging? If we all did the same thing, it would just be a club. No one can take that club seriously.

But the fact is that cause is too important to let this slip away. I understand and respect that each of us has a part to play in this. No one is more important than another, and no one is less important because they aren't on the proverbial 'front lines.' Together, victory is sure. Separated, we are as strong as Jello.

I am the newcomer to this. It took me a long time to jump in, but I realized that instead of fighting apart I should fight with the rest of the army. Many of you know I don't support unions most of the time, but I do agree with the basic premise behind them: one employee has no voice; 200 employees have a voice. And if there is injustice, strength in numbers can fix these problems.

So, thank you for letting me in this funny little club. I hope that you all continue to work together to see this through to the end. I'll do my part.

That you may know the truth, and where it's lacking, that together we find the truth.