The Oregonian on Sunday examined TriMet’s deteriorating finances and called attention to high-cost union contracts, first approved in 1994, as the starting point of the decline. Due to the compounding effect of these contracts, TriMet now spends $1.63 in benefits for every $1.00 spent on wages, and the agency has more than $1.2 billion in [...]

    Testimony of John A. Charles, Jr.   Before the TriMet Board of Directors   Regarding the Proposed FY 2012-13 Budget       April 25, 2012           There are some elements of the proposed budget that move TriMet in the right direction. I support the proposals to eliminate the [...]

John Charles presented his views on the proper use of road tolling in Oregon with ODOT’s Long Range Planning Manager,  Robert Maestre, and the Chair of the Birdshill CPO/NA, Charles Ormsby, during Birdshill’s panel discussion in Lake Oswego earlier this week.   Video by Jim Karlock.

Talk show host, Victoria Taft, talked with John Charles Monday about light rail use for the Expo Center’s Cirque de Soleil event, the Sustainability Center, and the future of TriMet.  

Three years ago, TriMet began operating its first heavy rail line, the Westside Express Service (WES). This line runs from Beaverton to Wilsonville during commuting hours on weekdays.   WES was trumpeted as the “next big thing,” but opening year ridership averaged only 1,156 boardings per day, less than half the 2,500 predicted by TriMet. [...]

Cascade’s President John Charles talks with radio host Victoria Taft about the Multnomah County Library bond measure, Portland’s public toilets, and a city backed compost biogas plant.

Last week a document called the Portland Plan was released by the Portland Office of Sustainability. The Plan lays out dozens of “community goals.” One of them is to increase the use of public transit from 12 percent of daily commute trips to 25 percent by the year 2035. Another one calls on Portlanders to [...]

Hear Cascade’s President John Charles discuss his thoughts on the Portland Plan with Nelson on The Victoria Taft Show.

Cascade’s President and CEO, John Charles, tells Victoria Taft why he thinks it’s time to “euthanize” urban renewal zones in Portland.

Last year the state legislature enacted HB 3681, allowing public school students to freely transfer from one district to another. Under the new law, if a school district is willing to accept a transfer student, the home district for that student can no longer veto the change. School districts were required to announce by March [...]