Its the End of Frequent Service......or is it?

In TriMets TIP Plan, it defines Frequent Service as:

On weekdays, frequent service begins no later than 6:00 a.m. and

continues until 10:30 p.m. On weekends, it begins by 8:00 a.m. and

continues until 10:30 p.m. Running buses frequently until 10:30 p.m.

matches service levels on MAX. Longer-term improvements (beyond

2010) aim for service at least every 10-12 minutes. While service

on these lines before 6:00 a.m. and after 10:30 p.m. may not be as

frequent as every 15 minutes, service on many of these routes during

the peaks can be as frequent as every three to five minutes.

So, Recent cuts have slashed the following lines from the above definition:

4,6,8,9,12,15,33,57 are all going to 17 min frequencies during off peak times and weekends

14 is ditching Frequent Service on weekends to 17 min

54/56 is going to 17 min increments, but only between Downtown and Olsen/Hillsdale Hwy, so for those along the lines West of that, its now 34 min.

Line 75 is heading for 18 min Weekdays and 17 min weekends.

HOWEVER, in recent searches, I have turned up the following NEW definition of Frequent Service from a "40 years of service" flyer:

TriMet’s 12 Frequent Service bus lines operate every 15 minutes or better during weekday rush hours. These lines offer low-floor, air-conditioned vehicles, shelters and schedule information in addition to increased service frequency. The 164-mile Frequent Service network carries 57% of all bus trips, with 46% of weekly bus-service hours.

>>>>"operate every 15 minutes or better during weekday rush hours"!!!!!!!!!!

So through some sort of secret meeting, or process, the definition has changed.

I am not fooled, as far as most riders are concerned, TriMet now has 1 real Frequent Service Line, Line 72. Line 14 is upholding the Frequent Service on weekdays only, so it does not fit the original criteria. I am not surprised, Decay the bus service, hell they are not even buying new buses yet, as per their own TIP plan! Fred hates buses, we know this, maybe it time to split MAX and Buses into two different operations, then the bus funding can't go to MAX. San Diego Transit operates this way, so It can be done.

Heres the Service changes, or reductions for that matter. But planning and designing for the next MAX line is underway, as always, priorities are all screwed up!