By a vote of the Portland City Council on January 14, 1969 the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon, better known as TriMet, was created.
As the post-war tide of freeway construction and private automobile ownership swept into Portland, Rose City Transit Company, the last remnant of a once formidable collection of area transit companies, was facing bankruptcy. TriMet was established to step in to provide bus service and other regional transit services.
The Oregon Legislature, in March of that same year, passed a bill that gave municipalities the power to raise revenue and create transit districts. Rose City Transit, Amalgamated Transit Union – Local 757, and TriMet worked out a deal and on Dec. 1, 1969, TriMet began operating.
Transit riders have had crazy stories ever since – contribute yours to TriMet Diaries! 😉
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