Commuting: A mix of options

by Angella Foret Diehl, Special to The Oregonian

Thursday December 04, 2008, 3:08 AM

Fredrick D. Joe/The Oregonian Julia Kassissieh and her son, David, 6, wait in downtown Portland to take the bus home to Cedar Hills. This was a rare occasion when David got dropped off at his mother’s workplace. Kassissieh alternates between taking the bus and MAX. “It’s a more efficient way to get to work,” she says.

Julia Kassissieh and co-worker Jennifer Klump agree that one of their favorite job perks is the all-zone transit pass offered as part of the benefits package through the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory.”It’s a more efficient way to get to work,” says Kassissieh, 39, who commutes from her home near the Sunset Transit Center, just north of U.S. 26 near Oregon 217, to the downtown Portland nonprofit laboratory.

In the summer, Kassissieh bikes to the transit center, takes the train to work and bikes home. The rest of the time, she walks a mile to the center before hopping on a train for the 20-minute commute.

Occasionally, Kassissieh will drive 3-year-old son Charlie to preschool, after which she’ll walk across the street and take the bus to work.

The Kassissieh family moved to Cedar Hills two years ago to be near Catlin Gabel School, where Richard Kassissieh is the director of information technology and 6-year-old David is a student. When Julia Kassissieh was offered the NWRL job several months later, their proximity to the Sunset Transit Center was an unexpected bonus.

Motherhood changed the commute for Klump, who lives in Aloha. Before 2-year-old Neal came along, Klump would walk to the Quatama/NW 205th Ave. Station and begin a 40-minute MAX train ride to the laboratory’s downtown office, where she’s worked for 10 years.

Now, instead of walking, Klump, 40, drives to the Willow Creek/SW 185th Ave. Transit Center and uses the park-and-ride.

Husband Lou will have dropped off Neal at a day care just across the street, and Klump picks him up on her way home from work.

Both women cite cost as one of the reasons they use public transportation.

For Kassissieh, factoring in gas prices and the $12 to $15 a day it would cost to park anywhere close to her downtown office sealed the deal.

For Klump, location influenced the family’s choice for Neal’s day care center. “We didn’t want him to be stuck in a car for 40 minutes every day,” she says.

Klump used to enjoy walking to the Quatama Transit Center but is reluctant to do so with her toddler. “There aren’t enough sidewalks, and they’re not well-lit,” she says.

Still, public transportation is worth it. “It takes just as long to drive as it does to ride.”
Transit passes help employees commute
Julia Kassissieh and Jennifer Klump’s employer, Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, takes advantage of TriMet’s employer transit program to provide transit passes for employees.

To find out if your company participates in the program, which provides free or reduced-price TriMet passes to employees, ask the human resources department at your work place. Employers can find out more information about the program at: www.trimet.org/employers

66 Responses

  1. Good day! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through many of the articles I realized
    it’s new to me. Anyhow, I’m definitely happy I found it and I’ll be book-marking
    it and checking back often!

  2. I was curious if you ever considered changing the
    page layout of your blog? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say.
    But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better.

    Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or 2 images.
    Maybe you could space it out better?

    My web blog: Keto LeanX (http://www.meteoritegarden.com)

  6. I’ve been exploring for a bit for any high-quality articles
    or blog posts on this kind of space . Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this web site.
    Studying this info So i am satisfied to exhibit that I have
    a very just right uncanny feeling I came upon exactly what I
    needed. I so much no doubt will make certain to don’t fail to remember this web site and give it a look on a relentless basis.

    My website: http://www.comptine.biz

  8. I really like your blog.. very nice colors & theme.

    Did you make this website yourself or did you
    hire someone to do it for you? Plz answer back as I’m looking
    to design my own blog and would like to find out where u got this from.
    thank you

    My homepage; Virectin Reviews

  18. Hello, Neat post. There is an issue along with your site in web explorer, would check
    this… IE still is the market leader and a good component of other people will omit your fantastic writing because of this problem.

    Feel free to visit my web blog – MosQiller S Reviews

  21. hello there and thank you for your information ?
    I’ve certainly picked up anything new from right
    here. I did however expertise some technical issues using this website, since
    I experienced to reload the website a lot of times
    previous to I could get it to load correctly.
    I had been wondering if your hosting is OK? Not that I’m complaining, but slow loading instances times will
    sometimes affect your placement in google and could damage your quality score
    if advertising and marketing with Adwords. Well I am adding this RSS to my email and could look out
    for much more of your respective intriguing content. Ensure that you update this again very soon.

    my web page … Glacier Air Conditioner

  23. Good – I should certainly pronounce, impressed with your website.
    I had no trouble navigating through all tabs as well as related information ended up being truly
    simple to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it at all.

    Quite unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or anything, site theme .
    a tones way for your customer to communicate. Excellent
    task.

    Also visit my webpage … Fast Dash Keto Pills

  29. What’s Going down i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve discovered
    It positively useful and it has aided me out loads. I’m hoping to contribute
    & aid different users like its helped me. Good job.

    Feel free to visit my web page: Amellia Skin Care (vip5.moisait2021.ru)

  31. I have been surfing online greater than 3 hours nowadays,
    but I never discovered any fascinating article like yours.
    It is beautiful worth enough for me. In my view, if all website
    owners and bloggers made excellent content material as you probably did, the web might be much more helpful than ever before.

    Here is my webpage … IQ SuperCharger

  32. I’ve been surfing online more than 4 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article
    like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. In my view, if
    all webmasters and bloggers made good content as you did, the web will be much
    more useful than ever before.

    Look into my web page: D-Fine8 Review

  35. Hi there! This post couldn’t be written much better!
    Looking through this article reminds me of my previous roommate!
    He constantly kept talking about this. I am going to forward
    this post to him. Pretty sure he’ll have a good read. Thank you for
    sharing!

  37. I’m amazed, I must say. Rarely do I come across a blog that’s both educative and entertaining, and let me tell you, you have hit the nail on the head.

    The issue is an issue that not enough people
    are speaking intelligently about. I am very happy that
    I found this in my hunt for something relating to this.

  38. Hello! I simply wish to offer you a huge thumbs up for
    your excellent information you’ve got here on this post.
    I’ll be coming back to your web site for more soon.

  40. Excellent weblog here! Additionally your website quite
    a bit up very fast! What web host are you the usage of?
    Can I am getting your affiliate hyperlink to your host?
    I wish my web site loaded up as fast as yours lol

  41. Hiya! Quick question that’s totally off topic. Do you know
    how to make your site mobile friendly? My website looks weird when browsing from my iphone 4.
    I’m trying to find a theme or plugin that might be able
    to fix this problem. If you have any suggestions, please share.
    Appreciate it!

  44. This is very interesting, You are a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your rss feed and
    look forward to seeking more of your excellent post. Also, I
    have shared your website in my social networks!

  45. This is very interesting, You are a very skilled
    blogger. I’ve joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your fantastic post.
    Also, I have shared your site in my social networks!

  48. Pretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your weblog and in accession capital to
    assert that I acquire in fact enjoyed account your blog posts.
    Any way I will be subscribing to your augment and even I achievement you access consistently fast.

    Also visit my web site: http://www.qijiang520.com

  51. Wonderful website you have here but I was wanting to know if you knew of any user discussion forums
    that cover the same topics talked about in this article?
    I’d really love to be a part of community where I can get feed-back from other knowledgeable people that share the same interest.
    If you have any suggestions, please let me know.
    Bless you!

    Feel free to surf to my web page: Nature Fused Cream Reviews

  58. I visited several web pages except the audio quality for audio songs current
    at this web site is genuinely superb.

  59. I’m really enjoying the design and layout of your blog.
    It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more
    pleasant for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a developer to create your theme?
    Great work!

    My website – Clean Cut Keto

  61. Hello there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it is truly informative.
    I am gonna watch out for brussels. I’ll be grateful
    if you continue this in future. A lot of people will
    be benefited from your writing. Cheers!

  62. I think other website owners should take this site as an model, very clean and superb user friendly style.

    Feel free to surf to my webpage Tuyet

  64. What’s up i am kavin, its my first occasion to commenting anyplace, when i read this article i
    thought i could also create comment due to this sensible article.

    Stop by my homepage :: 800ws.net

  65. Greetings from California! I’m bored at work so I decided to check out your website
    on my iphone during lunch break. I enjoy the information you present here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home.
    I’m surprised at how fast your blog loaded on my mobile ..
    I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, amazing blog!

  66. Its such as you learn my thoughts! You seem to understand a lot approximately this, like you wrote the book in it or
    something. I feel that you just can do with a few p.c.
    to drive the message house a little bit, however
    instead of that, this is magnificent blog. An excellent read.
    I’ll certainly be back.

    Feel free to visit my blog: Oracle Leaf Gold CBD Oil

ecoShuttle Charters & Tours

25500 SW Grahams Ferry Rd.
Sherwood, OR 97140
office hours:               M-F, 5am-5pm PST
toll free:                     1-877-ECO4PDX 
phone:                        503-548-4480 
fax:                             503-548-4821
email:                         info@ecoshuttle.com 

Service Areas: Beaverton, Bend, Camas, Damascus, Eugene, Gresham, Keizer, Lake Oswego, Oregon City, Hillsboro, Hood River, Portland, Salem, Sherwood, Springfield, Tigard, Troutdale, Tualatin, Vancouver, Washougal, and Wilsonville, Maupin, Madras, Pendleton, The Dalles, Corvallis.

©2024 ecoShuttle Charters & Tours. All RIGHTS RESERVED.