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Portland Council to Vote on $495,000 Transit Pass Pilot

8/31/2026

Summary

Story summary

Portland City Council will consider a one-year pilot providing free transit passes to 9,000 city employees.
The pilot would cost up to $245,000 more, about $55 per employee, totaling $495,000.
The emergency ordinance places the pilot on the Sept. 2 council agenda, with service through Aug. 31, 2027.
Officials hope the subsidy will maintain staffing during the five-week southbound I-5 shutdown beginning Sept. 11.
Eighty percent of non-participants said they would reconsider using transit.

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Story summary

Portland City Council will consider a one-year pilot providing free transit passes to 9,000 city employees.
The pilot would cost up to $245,000 more, about $55 per employee, totaling $495,000.
The emergency ordinance places the pilot on the Sept. 2 council agenda, with service through Aug. 31, 2027.
Officials hope the subsidy will maintain staffing during the five-week southbound I-5 shutdown beginning Sept. 11.
Eighty percent of non-participants said they would reconsider using transit.