TriMet Cuts 170 Jobs and $64.5 Million by FY27 as $300 Million Deficit Deepens

4 articles · Updated · KGW.com · May 28

TriMet said 170 employees will lose their jobs starting July 1 as part of a historic staffing reduction tied to its fiscal 2027 budget cuts.
The agency plans to eliminate about 400 positions overall, but 140 are already vacant; many affected union workers may return to prior union roles under the current labor agreement.
The board is cutting $64.5 million in fiscal 2027 spending—$53 million from administrative costs and $11 million from service reductions—while trying to preserve core transit service.
TriMet said rising costs have pushed its structural budget deficit, disclosed at $300 million in July 2025, toward a looming fiscal cliff despite roughly $150 million in earlier savings.
The cuts will shrink headcount to 3,204 from 3,708 and follow broader service changes already approved, including impacts on 33 bus lines and the MAX Green Line.

After cutting 33 bus lines, what will the next round of TriMet service reductions in 2027 look like?

Are TriMet's historic service cuts a necessary fix or the start of a transit 'death spiral' for Portland?

With traditional funding models failing, what is the new blueprint for survival for public transit in America?