After considering community feedback, TriMet has announced further changes to its Forward Together initiative that may positively affect Concordia residents. The first version of TriMet’s Draft Service Concept (see story on Page 3 of the Dec. 2022 issue of CNews) included plans to drop service for bus line 17 at the north end of its current route at NE Broadway Street due to low ridership.
However, at a meeting with TriMet’s board of directors in December, the Service Concept Committee presented its Revised Service Concept, which now indicates that line 17 would serve NE 33rd Avenue from Broadway.
This is good news for residents of the Concordia Neighborhood, since line 17 remains the only direct route from Concordia to Downtown Portland.
Other previously proposed updates to line 17 remain unchanged, including an increase in frequency to every 20 minutes from the route’s current frequency of every 30 minutes.
In another welcome change, under the Revised Service Concept, line 8 would serve NE Dekum Street to NE 27th Avenue and Saratoga Street. This would be especially helpful for those traveling to or from the new University of Oregon campus, located on the grounds of the former Concordia University.
It’s worth noting that the Revised Service Concept is only the current draft of TriMet’s Forward Together initiative, and no changes will take effect until Sept. 2023 at the earliest.
In addition, there will be further opportunities for community members to provide feedback. To learn more, visit TriMet.org/forward.
Shawn Mihalik is a novelist, photographer, martial artist, and the Concordia Neighborhood Association’s media team lead.