PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 27, 2023
A recent letter claiming that Metro buses mostly run empty is false. Ridership on Metro’s transit system exceeded 2.1 million boardings in 2019, which was a level of use not seen since the 1980s. Metro’s post-pandemic ridership recovery is nearing 90% of the 2019 high. Research shows that service improvements build ridership better than eliminating fares. A series of service improvements coming this year and next, we predict, will lead to strong ridership gains. Eliminating fares entirely would create a $2.4 million budget gap, requiring either service cuts or new taxpayer funding. ~ Greg Jordan, Greater Portland Metro