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The nonprofit that longed served as a political lobby for transit riders—OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon—is officially dead.
Two years after laying off its staff, and after many more years of financial uncertainty, the board of the long-standing transit justice group announced this week its formal dissolution.
“Over the past 21 years, OPAL was proud to help build a grassroots movement for environmental justice in Oregon,” reads an announcement dated Tuesday. “We are proud to have played an important part in this work and are inspired by the amazing work our partners do every day for our communities.”
According to the Sept. 8 statement, the group will live on in the form of one of its oldest programs, Bus Riders Unite!, which will operate as an independent organization under the fiscal sponsorship of nonprofit Umbrella PDX. OPAL’s board intends to transfer most of the group’s remaining assets into BRU’s accounts.
Among those mourning OPAL is Sarah Iannarone, onetime Portland mayoral candidate and transit advocate.
“OPAL spent two decades making the case that transit funding is climate justice, and it’s worth asking whether Oregon’s legacy environmental movement—and its funders—ever caught up with them,” writes Iannarone, now executive director of California sustainable transportation nonprofit MOVE Santa Barbara County. “But that work doesn’t end with OPAL, and Oregon still needs to build a broad-tent coalition for transit funding that can actually win.”
Founded in 2005, OPAL launched initiatives to improve air quality in predominantly Black communities in North and Northeast Portland.
Over time, it shifted focus beyond environmental justice and the health concerns of low-income people and minorities, and toward transit. OPAL organized around issues like lowering TriMet’s draconian fines for fare skipping, and making bus transfers valid for three hours after purchase.
But it dealt with serious financial challenges. In November 2024, the group’s volunteer board announced it had laid off all staff. Since that time, its board has continued to meet to wind down operations and maintain BRU.
BRU lead organizer—and lone staff member—Michael Ridenour tells WW the support of a local benefactor will enable BRU to work with a budget of about $25,000 next year. He said the group’s top priorities are securing increased funding for TriMet, cultivating local engagement and improving service quality.
“Over the past year, BRU has continued to vigorously organize for the future, because our region still needs a thriving transit rider union,” reads the statement.
OPAL’s declining fortunes track with those of the region’s public transit agency. Last month, to address a massive and deep-rooted budget deficit, TriMet enacted historic service cuts. Thirty-three bus lines were impacted, and the MAX Green Line was shortened to cut out downtown Portland. TriMet has eliminated 500 positions on its way to trimming around $300 million from its budget.
