BUS STOP SIGN TURNS UP MISSING ON 62 LINE

SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION FOR WES COMMUTER TRAIN TO BLAME

South Beaverton residents are dismayed when they discovered the popular bus stop at SW Scholls Ferry Rd. and Cascade was missing its familiar white and blue TriMet sign this week.

Construction crews for the WES Commuter Train tore up the existing sidewalk and have begun repaving the walkways this week. As with most construction projects of this type, any existing bus stop signs are thrown to the wayside, ignoring the fact that passengers still rely on them to board buses required for their transportation needs.

Ironically, the contractors, Stacy and Witbeck have been hired by TriMet but apparently are not required to ease the inconvenience for bus passengers while work is in progress.

Some conspiracy theorists believe that the sign was moved to the Murray and Linda Ln. stop (see article dated August 12, 2008) but TriMet officials counter that the Scholls Ferry stop also serves lines 45 and 92 while the Murray Blvd. stop only serves line 62. When asked when the sign would return, TriMet could not give a specific date citing many external factors. The new sign has been outsourced to Colorado Railcar, who is late with delivery with the remaining rail cars for the WES project. Colorado Railcar officials say that the factory in China who is manufacturing the new sign has been forced to shut down during the Beijing Olympics to curb air pollution during the event. A delivery date is unknown at this time.

Meanwhile people who rely on this particular stop fear that it may be two years before TriMet can get a new sign erected. On Thursday August 21, 2008 at 8:30 PM a candlelight vigil is scheduled at Scholls Ferry and Cascade to highlight their concerns.