Metro Magazine

MAY 2013

Magazine serving the bus and rail transit & motorcoach operations since 1904

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PARATRANSIT TriMet ofcer for Ride Connection. "Really, the approach that we take in Portland is TriMet does a very good job of moving the masses, and we can look at individual needs and be fexible and nimble as needs change and create programs that support independent mobility in our community." Te specialization of services results in several benefts for the customer. "What Ride Connection is able to do through their transportation services is group more rides," Potter explains. "Tey are able to provide service like shopper shuttles, where customers can interact with each other, so it allows riders to socialize too." A portion of funding for Ride Connection's transportation programs comes through TriMet via federal and state funds. Volunteers who serve in various capacities including as drivers, group transit trip leaders, board members and advocates, make up the bulk of Ride Connection's workforce. In FY2012, those volunteers contributed 61,592 hours of service. Aside from its partnership with TriMet, Ride Connection also maintains close partnerships with its community transportation network by supporting them in various ways, including centralized call center services and scheduling; driver training; contract compliance, risk management and safety assistance; accessible fleet acquisitions; fleet management and maintenance; and grant writing. "We have also recently recognized the importance of technologies and the efciencies gained through them," adds Wilcke. "So, we have made a concerted efort to provide Web-based data management and reporting tools to our partners to help them meet more of the demand in an efcient manner." In 1986, its frst year in operation, Ride Connection provided 11,700 rides. In FY 2012, the private nonproft provided 410,000 rides and now boasts a network of 642 drivers, 429 of which are volunteers. It has also provided travel training to more than 2,000 individuals who can now access TriMet's regular fxedroute service. Currently, Ride Connection saves TriMet $8 million a year, the equivalent of 8% of bus service, which has been crucial for the transit agency since it had to cut 14% of its regular fixedroute services during the most current recession. "Due to back-to-back recessions and unsustainable health care benefits, we have been struggling to keep service on the street," explains Potter. "By expanding our partnership with Ride Connection, which has allowed us to save more money, institute fare increases on Lift and provide travel training, we have not had to make more cuts to our regular fxed-route services." 44 < mETRO mAGAZINE MAY 2013 metro-magazine.com

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