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A D V E R T I S E M E N T
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"Unfortunately, this is not the first time this has happened," he said. "Operators and passengers have been complaining about a number of intermittent problems with the new rail car’s communications system. Nothing has been fixed.”
TriMet said the MAX train operator, who was not identified, was initially put on administrative leave pending a disciplinary hearing Wednesday morning. TriMet said an investigation found that the operator’s actions contributed to the child’s separation from his father.
According to TriMet, the incident began when Aaron Bailey and his son, Aiden, were riding a Green Line MAX train headed for the Gateway Transit Center. As the train stopped at the Southeast Main Street station, Aiden and his father started to step off, and the child pushed the disabled ramp button. That caused the doors to close before his father could depart the train.
Aaron Bailey said he pushed the intercom button several times to alert the train operator, but the operator did not respond to four calls to stop the train.
At the station, Green saw what happened and shouted through the doors of the departing train that she would stay with the child until the father returned.
TriMet said its investigation found that the doors closed because the disabled ramp was being deployed, and would have reopened, but the operator selected the “door close” button as he prepared to leave the station.
TriMet’s findings follow a thorough inspection of the emergency intercom system and door/ramp operations, review of train performance data and a recreation of the incident, Fetsch says.
Hunt disagrees, however, saying his union's investigation blames a problem with the train the agency should repair.
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I am glad to hear that TriMet suspended the MAX operator . He has no compassion with Mr. Bailey when he was asking him why he wasn't answering the intercom , and he just shot the door again! I know the TriMet staff gave a one year TriMet pass for the Bailey family. How about Ms. O. Green? I think you should give her at least a one month pass and a cup of latte.
(email verified)
Mon, Nov 23, 2009 at 05:50 PM
Tri-Met has not "suspended" the operator. Most people usually think of a "suspension" being without pay. The operator has, more likely, been placed on paid administrative leave pending the investigation. That's right - the taxpayers are paying for the operator to stay home and watch Oprah or have more time to meet with the union rep to get the story ironed out. I bet if the Trib did a follow-up story in six months, it would find the operator will have returned to duty with no discipline on the record.
We need transit. We also need Tri-Met to try harder at doing quality work.
(email verified)
Mon, Nov 23, 2009 at 07:53 PM
I have a cake job with waaay too many benys. HA HA HA LOSERS!
Max driver de Premier
(email verified)
Mon, Nov 23, 2009 at 08:11 PM
Tell us again, oh hallowed green socialists, why we should take mass transit?
(email verified)
Mon, Nov 23, 2009 at 08:21 PM
The "driver" needs to be fired 1. he ignored the call for help 2. he overridden the ramp and closed the door. Also the family got a one year try-mess pass but what about the lady that took care of the kid till daddy came back? She should get a year long pass too.
(email verified)
Mon, Nov 23, 2009 at 10:14 PM
I have called Tri-Met numerous times about their rude, uncaring or aloof drivers. Not all of them, but there is a general attitude among many drivers that it is their job to drive and the passengers are responsible for themselves. I not long back had a security issue on a bus myself and despite the pleas of several passengers on my behalf telling the driver, quite loudly, that I was having trouble with a drunk passenger and he needed to stop and get help he just ignored it all and kept on driving. I finally forced my way out of my seat; the individual was deliberately trapping me in my seat; and dashed for the door the next time he stopped. The drunk passenger stayed on board. When I called Tri-Met to complain they just told me it was my fault for not stopping the verbal and physical assault long enough to take out my cell phone and call 911. Yeah...right. Tri-Met has some serious security lapses and they STILL remain blind to it.
(email verified)
Tue, Nov 24, 2009 at 05:44 AM
"Tell us again, oh hallowed green socialists, why we should take mass transit? - bob"
Well, Bob, because on a personal level, transit makes good business sense. Besides, Bob, we now all know your "private sector" cronies need socialism to give each other their bonuses. AKA:
• BOA
• AIG
• GM
• Chrysler
Should I go on Bob? I could, you know. The list of failed private sector bonus bozos relying on socialism to keep up their golf club memberships is pretty long.
Transit is just a good deal on your transportation expenses. It's just that Tri-Met (headed up by a private sector guy) is failing at quality customer service.
(email verified)
Tue, Nov 24, 2009 at 06:06 AM
The operator is very lucky and so is the little boy that he didnt just fall into the pit where the tracks are...or something equally horrible.....he/she deserves to be fired and not be eligible for a public transit job in the future...not to mention criminally charged...this really was so dangerous...reckless endangerment of a child... maybe
(email verified)
Tue, Nov 24, 2009 at 06:44 AM
"Transit is just a good deal on your transportation expenses. It's just that Tri-Met (headed up by a private sector guy) is failing at quality customer service."
Transit User has it right on the money (although Fred Hansen has virtually no private sector experience; he previously was the head of DEQ before coming to TriMet).
The majority of TriMet Operators I have come in contact with are good, decent folks. The few that are the "bad apples" unfortunately take a lot to get them were they belong and that unfortunately gives all of TriMet a bad rap. I'm fortunately right now to have a group of very dedicated, friendly Operators whom I ride with on a daily basis and are always pleasant, greet me, and drive professionally and safely.
An organization's culture is driven by the top and Fred Hansen's leadership has certainly created a culture - one that is uncaring and unsympathetic towards the end-user. I even had a TriMet service planner tell me flat out that TriMet doesn't see its riders as its customers; its customers are the grant writers who pay for TriMet's MAX expansions and the cities who want light rail. As long as TriMet expands MAX, Fred Hansen is happy. Note that in the last two weeks, where has Hansen been? TriMet has had multiple service crisies in the public eye and media, and he only issued one statement - no interviews, no appearances, and most of all - no apolgies. He's left it all to spokespersons. But when there's a new MAX or WES or Streetcar line to open - he's front, center, and hoarding all the media attention he can get on himself.
It's beyond time that Hanson step aside; he's been at the helm of TriMet for 11 years. His #1 manager, Steve Banta (who has moved around transit properties for years) is headed to Arizona as General Manager there. Clearly for all that Portland is a "leader" in transit - nobody else wants to hire away Hansen even though he could easily make 50-100% more money at another property. Why is that? Maybe it's because the other transit agencies know something - that he discriminates against bus riders, has no customer service concern, internal operations are a mess, WES was a disaster, the Streetcar isn't everything, and transit-oriented development isn't exactly working out the way TriMet proclaims it does. Maybe it's time that the Board of Directors finally take a stand and send him packing so we can get fresh, new leadership and a new focus at TriMet to help existing customers before empire building.
(email verified)
Tue, Nov 24, 2009 at 08:15 AM
"transit user" said:
Tri-Met has not "suspended" the operator. Most people usually think of a "suspension" being without pay. The operator has, more likely, been placed on paid administrative leave pending the investigation. That's right - the taxpayers are paying for the operator to stay home and watch Oprah
=================================
That's because they need to do a thorough investigation of the incident, THEN fire him, rather than fire him based on what is known at this point.
Get the facts on the table FIRST - then make a judgment, even if you're already sure what the outcome will be.
THAT is how America works.
I know your types prefer to "shoot first, ask questions later" and believe in "guilty until proven innocent," but there is a thing in America called "due process" that allows the guilty to be convicted only after all the facts are known and evaluated by third party observers.
It allows us to sentence the guilty and minimize the possibility that our decision can be called into question later because we missed something.
Fire him, or put him on unpaid leave, based on the facts known today and without thoroughly investigating, and the operator could come back with all sorts of wrongful termination lawsuits, counter-allegations, etc. that TriMet would have a hard time disputing. ESPECIALLY given that he is union.
Yes, I know we're talking about something that's not necessarily a criminal act (but probably could be characterized as one - child endangerment?)...but regardless, the principles are the same.
So...shut up about immediate termination and let the process do its work.
(email verified)
Tue, Nov 24, 2009 at 08:49 AM
Go walk in their shoes.
http://pdxtrains.blogspot.com/2009/11/come-walk-in-my-shoes.html
Then give your opinion.
(email verified)
Tue, Nov 24, 2009 at 09:40 AM
The father of that child is at fault not the Max operator.
Whatever was more important on the train that he went back for, than being with his child ,caused this whole incident. Why didnt he pull the large red handle by the door that would have stopped the train immediately?Emergency call or no call. Riders fiddle fart around with those buttons all the time. Here is a thought dont push the ramp deploy button unless you are in a mobility device. Dont push the emergency call button unless you need something.It wastes time. Cry wolf over and over Max operators may ignore you.
Stop trying to be famous and next time hold on to your three year old .
Trimet spoils "rider" and we do such a good job "rider" thinks they can do and say whatever they want and its Trimets fault. This is much ado about nothing.
Operators dont override anything.
Fired ? for what trying to get all the other people where they have to go quickly and safely.
Parents lose their kids all the time because everything else(cell phones,bags,cigarettes,and the semi trailer sized stroller) is more important.And they get reunited unharmed.
This town has one of the best and safest systems in the country.Be grateful.
(email verified)
Tue, Nov 24, 2009 at 09:10 PM
Fred Hanson makes over $250,000 per year, more than the mayor, governor, and senators and even the Port of Portland CEO. I dont think his pay is in line with what TriMet is pushing on us.
(email verified)
Wed, Nov 25, 2009 at 03:19 PM
All of this "firing" business is just a big show because Trimet and the Union know that the courts will reinstate this driver. Unless his 20 years is filled with oral and written reprimands, his job is safe, he may even make some extra money from all of this. The "fake" firing is good for Trimet and good for the Union that will get the member's job back; and neither gives a rip about the child's safety or that of the general ridership. If you think that they will do any more about cell phone use, you must be waiting for the tooth fairy or the easter bunny.
(email verified)
Thu, Nov 26, 2009 at 08:20 AM
Actually, I think it was Fred Hansen who switched Trimet's hiring process from hiring guys with driving skills to hiring drivers who had the people skills to handle passengers. I have heard rumors that they have tried to move some of the people who lack people skills to the MAX where they have less interaction with the public.
Whatever happened, TRi-met is a public agency with unionized drivers and it can't just go off half-cocked because a driver makes a mistake. No matter how much bad publicity it gets. The demands that the driver be fired based on what you read in the newspaper explains why the drivers need a union to protect them.
(email verified)
Fri, Nov 27, 2009 at 08:14 PM
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Re: TriMet places MAX operator on leave after child left at station
Well its about time the Tri-met operaters are put on the spotlight for being so inconsiderate when they are a couple minutes behind schedule. Not to mention operaters who use their cell phones when driving the bus and, flooring the accelarator before old people can take their seat!
These people need to be held accountable for their actions Back in july while riding the 77 to my work , the bus driver got on his cell phone and procede to chat it up , missing one persons stop completely and using on hand to drive during a busy afternoon on halsey ave.Thes guys should be arrested for putting peoples lives in danger.
"Thomas Pomroy"
(email verified)
Mon, Nov 23, 2009 at 05:23 PM