Metro To Cut 74 Bus Routes If State Doesn’t Come Through

In a dramatic announcement on Thursday, Metro announced its plans to cut 74 bus routes by mid-2014 in response to the state's inability to pass a transportation package. Another 107 routes would be changed.

In an online statement, country transportation officials said the bus system, funded mostly through sales tax, was hurt by the weakened economy. They say Metro's budget has fallen short by $1.2 billion over the last four years.

The state legislature had been working on a $10 billion transportation funding package, but the Senate’s Republican-led majority dragged its heels, saying the state should rein in transportation spending. Their criticisms were focused mostly on a highway-light rail crossing over the Columbia River, between Washington and Oregon.

County officials said raising fares wouldn’t cut it, as a one-way fare would have to increase to a prohibitive $4.25 to cover the gap.

Metro routes scheduled to be cut: 4, 5X, 7X, 19, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 37, 48X, 152, 154, 158, 159, 161, 167, 173, 178, 179, 190, 192, 200, 201, 202, 203, 205X, 209, 2010, 211X, 213, 215, 217, 237, 238, 242, 243, 244X, 250, 260, 265, 277, 280, 304, 306X, 308.

Dart routes being deleted: 901, 908, 909, 910, 913, 916, 919, 927, 930, 935.