TriMet is once again considering taking away Fareless Square. TriMet along with the Portland Business Alliance are working on proposals that would range from dramatically overhauling Fareless Square geographically to charging $1 to ride downtown and to Lloyd Center.
The police, business alliance and TriMet have alluded to Fareless Square creating an atmosphere of lawlessness. They also point to the loss of revenue for TriMet, an estimated $800,000. We think the proposed changes are about greed and intolerance.
The proposed changes strike at the heart of what makes Portland unique. Portland’s downtown is not a lawless urban environment regardless of how many lobbyists the Portland Business Alliance hires to say so. And we think the loss of revenue that small and large businesses will incur with no Fareless Square will far outweigh the $800,000 in revenue for TriMet.
The Fareless Square system is a model that brings people together. Regardless of your class or culture, together we are able to move around the city's core in a way that promotes and celebrates what we have in common, not our differences. Fareless Square must stay.
What you can do: Call (503.962.4910) or email (pr@trimet.org) TriMet Public Relations office and tell them you want to Fareless Square to remain the same – free and welcoming for all.