The Rose City Transit Company (RCT, or RCTC) was a private company that operated most mass transit service in the city of Portland, Oregon, from 1956 to 1969. It operated only within the city proper. Transit services connecting downtown Portland with suburbs outside the city but within the Portland metropolitan area were run by other private companies, mainly a consortium of four companies known collectively as the "Blue Bus" lines.
Rose City Transit was a wholly owned subsidiary of the Portland Traction Company (PTC), which was also its predecessor."New Transit Company To Start Operation Friday". (Friday, February 10, 1956). The Oregonian, p. 17."PTC Lists 1955 Net $470,347: Freight Traffic Offsets Slump in Passengers". (March 15, 1956). The Oregonian, p. 1. Prior to the formation of RCT, most transit service in the city had been provided directly by Portland Traction under that name since the 1930s.Sebree, Mac; and Ward, Paul (1974). The Trolley Coach in North America, pp. 219–223. Los Angeles: Interurban Press. LCCN 74-20367.Labbe, John T. (1980). Fares Please! Those Portland Trolley Years, pp. 142, 148. Caldwell, ID (US): Caxton. . After PTC's bus routes were transferred to Rose City Transit in 1956, PTC continued to run two interurban trolley lines (to Oregon City and Bellrose) under its own name, but those two lines – the only trolley car lines remaining in operation in Portland after abandonment of the last city streetcar lines in 1950Thompson, Richard (2006). Portland's Streetcars, pp. 113–114, 121. Charleston, South Carolina (US): Arcadia Publishing. . – were the only transit routes still operated directly by PTC, which otherwise was a freight railroad.Turner, Wallace and Lambert, William (January 12, 1956). "New Setup In Owners Due Busses: Rose City Transit Proposed to Run Portland Vehicles". The Oregonian, p. 1."Disputed Interurban Lines Sole Rails To 125 Business Firms Near Portland". (January 12, 1956). The Oregonian, p. 6. Although RCT was a private company, it operated under a franchise agreement with the city of Portland, through which the city had some oversight control. Any fare increases or major service changes had to be approved by the city council."Transit Firm Gets 2 Years". (July 6, 1956). The Oregonian, p. 1.
Many transit systems in the United States were changing from private to public control in the 1950s, as growth in private-car ownership and other factors made operating mass transit service increasingly unprofitable. By 1962, all but two major West Coast cities had made the change and begun subsidizing transit, and one of those two exceptions was Portland, served by the Rose City Transit Company (with San Diego being the other).Holm, Don (January 1, 1962). "Powerful Group Booms Public Ownership Of Transit Line". The Oregonian, p. 24. By 1967, RCT was the last remaining privately owned big-city transit system on the West Coast,Barber, Lawrence (September 1, 1968). "Rosy In Distress: Transit Firm Faces Crisis As Costs Rise". The Sunday Oregonian, p. 1. after San Diego Transit became municipalized. Rose City Transit's annual ridership declined from 32.3 million in 1956"Transit Firm Reports Loss; Freight Division Returns Profit". (March 13, 1958). The Oregonian, section 2, p. 4. to 15.7 million in 1968."Portland Transit Annual Report Shows Cost Rise, Revenue Dip". (March 22, 1970). The Sunday Oregonian, section 1, p. 28.
Effective December 1, 1969, a newly formed public authority, Tri-Met, replaced Rose City Transit, taking over all operation and facilities, and using the same personnel, under an agreement reached between RCT, the city council and Tri-Met."Tri-Met Takes Bus Control; Strike Averted". (December 1, 1969). The Oregonian, p. 1.
Formation The Portland Traction Company's 20-year franchise to operate the city's transit system, approved by city voters in 1936,"Four State Measures Defeated by Voters; Airport, Trolleys Win". (February 1, 1936). The Morning Oregonian, p. 1. expired on February 10, 1956."New Firm Gets OK To Operate: Transit Company Given 60 Days By City Council". (January 24, 1956). The Oregonian, p. 1. In October 1955, the city council refused to renew the franchise, citing dissatisfaction with the company's practices, quality of service and out-of-state corporate control.Turner, Wallace (November 24, 1955). "Barde Says $250,000 Now Ready As Nucleus for Purchase of PTC". The Oregonian, p. 15. Since 1946, PTC had been owned by a San Francisco-based holding company called Portland Transit Company, which in turn was controlled by a company called Pacific Associates.Lambert, William and Turner, Wallace (October 16, 1955). "Postwar Rider Slump Squeezes Traction Firm". The Oregonian, p. 47.Holm, Don (January 7, 1962). "History Shows Portland Transit Systems Ride Rough Road". The Oregonian, p. 35. In January 1956, PTC owner Portland Transit formed a new subsidiary, Rose City Transit Company, which it hoped would gain city council approval to take over all Portland city transit lines."Transit Firm Files Articles [of Incorporation]". (January 14, 1956). The Oregonian, p. 7. The only lines serving areas outside the city, the two interurban rail lines to Oregon City and Bellrose (also spelled Bell Rose), would remain with PTC."PTC Asks Only for 60-Day Extension to Permit Transfer". (January 20, 1956). The Oregonian, p.12. The council approved this arrangement on a trial basis, and Rose City Transit began operating the city's transit system on February 10, 1956. It used the same vehicles, employees and maintenance facilities previously used by PTC, which technically was its owner, making the transition relatively simple. The new company was initially given only a 60-day revocable franchise by the city, which was later extended by 30 days, while details of a long-term agreement were still being worked out."Two-Year Permit Asked To Assure City Transit". (June 14, 1956). The Oregonian, p. 1. Both sides wanted changes before agreeing on a long-term franchise; for its part, RCT wanted more freedom to make changes without being required to obtain council approval."Transit Franchise Talks Hinted as Near Opening". (January 26, 1956). The Oregonian, p. 15. At one point when differences between the city council and RCT were great, one city commissioner (council member) proposed putting the idea of municipal ownership of the transit system to a vote by the public if an agreement could not be reached."City Ownership of Transit Line Eyed for Ballot: 'Guaranteed Profit' Proposal Draws Criticism From Commissioner Bowes". (April 6, 1956). The Oregonian, p. 1. However, differences were eventually worked out, and RCT was given a two-year franchise, and later a 10-year one, the latter taking effect on January 1, 1963."Transit Pact Now Official". (August 24, 1962). The Oregonian, p. 29.
Portland Transit, the California holding company, created a separate subsidiary named Landport Company, Inc., to own RCT's vehicles, facilities and properties. Landport leased them to RCT."City, Transit Company Officials Disagree On Issues Related To Takeover". (August 14, 1969). The Oregonian, p. 29. RCT's first president was Gordon Steele, who had been president of PTC for many years prior; he retired in August 1956."Gordon Steele's New Auto" (editorial). (August 10, 1956). The Oregonian, p. 16.
Local bus service outside the Portland city limits was operated by other private companies, including Portland Stages, Inc.; Tualatin Valley Stages, Inc.; Intercity Buses, Inc. and Estacada-Molalla Stages. These four were collectively – but unofficially – known as the "‘Blue Bus’ lines" or "Blue Buses"."'Blue Buses' Raise Fare". (February 14, 1967). The Oregonian, p. 23."Competing Portland Bus Lines Maneuver For Advantage As Merger Talks Continue". (October 22, 1965). The Oregonian, p. 18. In 1964, RCT began negotiating to purchase the four suburban companies, but no deal was reached, and the four Blue Bus lines remained in operation until taken over by Tri-Met in 1970.Federman, Stan (September 2, 1970). "Tri-Met Action Averts Strike Of Bus Drivers; Agency To Assume Operation Of Four Suburban Blue Lines". The Oregonian, p. 1. Bus service between Portland and Vancouver, Washington, was provided only by the Vancouver-Portland Bus Company, a private company that remained in operation until the end of 1976.McDonough, Sandra (January 1, 1977). "40 Years of service: Bus firm quietly rolls to end of line" [Vancouver–Portland Bus Company goes out of business]. The Oregonian, p. 1.
Service overview
At the time of the transfer from Portland Traction Company to Rose City Transit, the transit system included about 30 routes, using a fleet of about 230 buses (including trolley buses). The adult fare (since early 1955) was 20 cents, with tokens priced three for 50 cents,"Boody Backs Fare Boost". (February 8, 1957). The Oregonian, p. 19. increasing in February 1958 to 25 cents with tokens two for 45 cents."Fare hike due Sunday". (February 8, 1958). The Oregonian, p. 1. By mid-1966, the basic fare was 35 cents, which was the highest of any transit system on the Pacific Coast."Portland Mass Transit Shows History Of Great Financial Woe". (September 1, 1968). The Sunday Oregonian, p. 8.
In a series of changes implemented between October 1958 and April 1959, nearly all routes terminating downtown were connected into through-route combinations – for example, the "Broadway" line was linked to the "Powell" line"Bus Routes Join Sunday: Turns Eliminated By Through Runs". (October 15, 1958). The Oregonian, p. 13. (a combination which lasted until 2012) – to make operation through downtown more efficient. After these changes, the revised total number of routes in Rose City's system was 21. Routes were designated only by names, not numbers, during RCT's entire existence. Not until 1973, more than three years after Tri-Met took over, were Portland-area transit routes first designated by numbers."Tri-Met directors discontinue little-used experimental route". (August 7, 1973). The Oregonian, p. 15. As of 1961, about 180 buses were in scheduled service during rush hour."Transit Firm Places Order For Vehicles". (May 18, 1960). The Oregonian, p. 1.
Workforce Rose City's drivers and most other workers were unionized, as they had been under PTC, represented by local 757 of the Amalgamated Association of Street, Electric Railway and Motor Coach of America"Traction Wage Pact Inked Giving Raise of 16 Cents". (October 27, 1956). The Oregonian, p. 9. (later renamed the Amalgamated Transit Union). In 1960, 227 of the unionized employees were drivers."Awards Due Rosy Drivers". (February 18, 1960). The Oregonian, p. 4. RCT never experienced a strike by its drivers, but an impasse between the company and the union during contract negotiations in 1968 led to a three-day suspension of all service,"Fare Increase Looms As Bus Service Resumes; Rose City, Union OK Contract". (November 4, 1968). The Oregonian, p. 1. the first suspension of transit service in the city's history.Federman, Stan (November 2, 1968). "City Loses Bid To Halt Bus Shutdown: Judge Delays Tieup Decision". The Oregonian, p. 1. In mid-1968, the company had 350 drivers and 133 other employees.
Electric transit