Is the City Seriously Considering Pulling Out of Tri Met?

To ALL COLA LO Members,

As reported in this blog LO is listening to those that would like the city to pull out of Tr-Met and start its own bus service.    While some citizens oppose the move it appears the opposition isn't as large as expected.  

For years citizens have complained about very limited bus service on the west side of Lake Oswego which includes the economic engine of the Kruse Way corridor and the WEB.   The new development occurring in this area and Lake Grove is only going to increase traffic and movement in the area.  

Last week the council heard a presentation on the option to remove the city form Tri-Met Withdrawing Not a Fantasy.   At the same time this week a community leader urges not to withdraw but continue to advocate for more service which has been done for over a decade:

‘City council should be an advocate with TriMet’

According to its representatives, TriMet serves 300,000 riders a day in its transportation system. TriMet picks up or drops off in Lake Oswego more than 500,000 riders a year.

Seceding from TriMet would hurt seniors, employees, the disabled and others who depend on public transportation. Lake Oswego is not an island to itself in the metropolitan area. The Lake Oswego City Council should be an advocate with TriMet for improved transit service from downtown Portland to the Kruse Way corridor to serve the approximately 6,000 employees who work here.
Rob LeChevallier
Lake Oswego 

Its clear that like the issue of high density there are widely different views on the issue.   Yet High Density development and mass transit are interconnected in the regional strategy of Metro.   TOD- Transit Oriented Development as a primary objective of Metro can be found here Transit Oriented Development.

So many in the community area asking themselves if the "streetcar isn't dead"  when they see leaders often advocating for high density and less control over our transit options.

 Last year COLA board member Gary Gipson clearly linked the wizer development with this issue in his article Will the Streetcar Follow?

Its the first time the linkage was made public.   It will be interesting to see how the issue of high density development and TriMet participation evolves as more citizens recognise the pattern and their options.  

Please notify all members, contacts, and friends.