Curtis, do you actually *ride* Tri-Met?

I've been riding from NE Portland, Milwaukie, Oak Grove, and Sunnyside (in Clackamas, not the Portland neighborhood) to various destinations all over metro Portland (including Wilsonville) and I rarely get to ride MAX - it's limited in its destinations. I ride busses, and almost never more than 2.

That doesn't change the fact that Tri-Met needs to improve its service, especially in the non-peak hours, but the problems you speak of have never existed for me.

Granted, if you're a regular rider, your experience may be entirely different.