TriMet
TriMet on April 17 reported joining the Oregon Transit Association in appealing to Oregon legislators to increase funding for public transit in the upcoming 2025 transportation package. “We appreciate the efforts of the Oregon Legislature to assemble a package that balances funding for all modes of transportation,” said the transit agency, which provides MAX light rail, WES commuter rail, bus, and LIFT paratransit services across 533 square miles of the state’s three most populous counties of Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas. “However, the amount of funding for public transit currently being proposed is not enough to avoid service cuts that will leave tens of thousands of Oregonians stranded without the transportation they depend on, including in TriMet’s tri-county service district.”
According to TriMet, the phased increase of 0.4% in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund (STIF) employee payroll tax over eight years sought by the Oregon Transit Association is necessary to avoid cuts to transit service. Under the current proposed 0.08% increase, TriMet would need to begin cutting service by July 1, 2027. “We would need to cut 15% of service in 2027, with an additional 5% cut every two years after that, until our operating budget deficit is resolved,” the agency reported.
The Oregon Legislature in 2017 passed the first transportation package in state history that dedicated funding to improve transit service around the state, including providing free or discounted fare programs for students and Oregonians living on a low income. “While welcome by transit agencies, public transportation receives just 8% as much state funding as the state highway fund receives each year in the face of rising costs and financial challenges,” TriMet noted.
Like other public transit agencies in Oregon and across the nation, TriMet said it has seen operating costs “skyrocket,” mainly due to inflation. “Our operating costs per vehicle have increased 53% from 2019 to 2024,” it pointed out. “TriMet has tripled our budget for safety and security in the last several years, to address community-wide public safety challenges that affect our transit system.”
According to TriMet, it has been operating on reduced revenues since the COVID-19 pandemic and is currently facing a $74.4 million deficit for the fiscal year ahead, beginning July 1, 2025. “As our deficit continues to grow year-to-year, we’re using our reserves to avoid reducing services, and we’re making meaningful cuts to our discretionary spending and implementing changes to right-size our budget,” it reported.
TriMet noted that its federal COVID-19 relief funding has been depleted, and it faces a fiscal cliff in 2031. “We’re working with lawmakers now to identify additional state funding, before our deficit becomes unmanageable,” TriMet said. “With a 0.4% phased increase in the STIF employee payroll tax, transit funding would still be less than the funding for other transportation modes. A person making Oregon’s median income would pay $16.75 a month by 2032. In comparison, by that time the average driver would spend roughly $60 a month in gas taxes and vehicle fees under the Legislature’s proposed transportation package framework.”
Without that phased increase, TriMet said it will be forced to make “drastic service cuts,” including reducing frequency, hours of operation, and eliminating some bus lines altogether. For its bus service alone, which includes 78 lines, TriMet said it would need to eliminate up to 34 bus lines by July 2027, seven more bus lines by July 2029, and 10 more bus lines by July 2031.
“TriMet is grateful for the support of the lawmakers who penned a letter to legislative leadership on March 28, 2025, urging them to, ‘prioritize a phased increase to the Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund (STIF) payroll tax, to reach ½ of 1% by 2033 to ensure there are no cuts to local transit service,’” TriMet reported. “According to that letter signed by the 10 legislators, 64% of the public comments received during the Joint Committee on Transportation’s 2024 community roadshow identified investments in transit as a top priority for the 2025 transportation package.”
Further Reading: TriMet Releases FY26 Budget Proposal
NJT
NJT on April 19 began rolling out a new fare card, “FARE-PAY,” to reduce the use of paper tickets and cash on board buses and to speed the boarding process.
Customers on Newark Light Rail and at four park and rides—Willowbrook Mall (Wayne), Mothers (Wayne), Wayne Transit Center (Wayne), and Allwood Road (Clifton)—who purchase monthly passes from Ticket Vending Machines now receive the new fare cards. Starting May 1, customers at the four park and rides purchasing 10-trip bus tickets will also receive the new cards.
According to NJT, customers simply tap their “FARE-PAY” cards at the onboard validator while boarding or at platform validating stations on Newark Light Rail. Additional locations, features and travel modes will be added as the program expands, the transit agency said.
The reusable “FARE-PAY cards allow customers to manage their accounts online, view fare card activity, and auto-reload products and value. Customers will hold onto their “FARE-PAY” cards and reload tickets or passes onto them; a credit/debit card is not required. As part of future phases of “FARE-PAY,” NJT said customers will be able to purchase and reload their cards at participating retail locations throughout the state. That feature is expected to be available this summer.
According to NJT, customers who use the mobile app to purchase tickets and passes can continue to do so and will not require a “FARE-PAY” card.
“NJT continues to evolve with the needs of our customers by providing fare payment options that are simple, flexible, and environmentally responsible,” NJT President and CEO Kris Kolluri said. “The ‘FARE-PAY’ card reflects our broader goal of modernizing fare collection throughout our system, improving the overall travel experience for our customers.”
SJJPA
The SJJPA Board has unanimously adopted a resolution approving “Gold Runner” as the official brand name of the San Joaquins Intercity Rail Corridor and associated Thruway Bus network, according to SJJPA (download Board Member Agenda below; see page 144). The Amtrak® San Joaquins ® brand was adopted in 2015 and the new brand is slated to better reflect SJJPA’s “vision, growth, and ownership of the service,” the Authority said in an April 17 announcement.
“The adoption of the Gold Runner brand marks a significant milestone for our service and passengers,” said Stacey Mortensen, Executive Director of SJJPA, which has been responsible for the management and administration of Amtrak San Joaquins since 2015 and is governed by Board Members representing each of 10 member agencies along the 365-mile San Joaquins Corridor. “This rebranding positions us to fully own our identity, aligns with the strategic goals of the California State Rail Plan, and highlights our commitment to expanding the service to better serve passengers throughout California utilizing our rail and Thruway bus services.”
The shift to Gold Runner, SJJPA said, comes after “comprehensive market research and feedback from focus groups of San Joaquins passengers, which emphasized the importance of showcasing the Authority’s expansive Thruway Bus network.” According to the Authority, more than 60% of San Joaquins riders utilize Thruway buses on at least one leg of their journey. As such, an Authority-owned brand enables it to emphasize the full scope of transportation options available within the San Joaquins Corridor.
Additionally, the Gold Runner brand will facilitate a cohesive identity as SJJPA advances shared initiatives within the Valley Rail Program, in collaboration with ACE®, Capitol Corridor, Pacific Surfliner, and California High-Speed Rail, it said. The new brand also is slated to align SJJPA with similar branding ownership structures such as the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority.
To ensure a smooth transition, SJJPA said it is implementing a phased rollout, with updates to station signage, marketing materials, and digital platforms occurring over the coming months. As part of this effort, the Authority will host public events and community outreach initiatives to introduce the new brand, engage with riders, and highlight the expanded services available under Gold Runner. Details on these events will be announced soon, according to SJJPA.
