Highway to Hell
Ever wonder why Portland's transit system is so unique? Why other large and growing cities look to Portland as a model city?
Portland is well-known for its omnibus crave to make transportation work for everyone, not just those trying to get into the city.
Check out this article and get a little history behind why Portland is so different.
http://wweek.com/editorial/3118/6110/
Portland is well-known for its omnibus crave to make transportation work for everyone, not just those trying to get into the city.
Check out this article and get a little history behind why Portland is so different.
http://wweek.com/editorial/3118/6110/
posted by Andrew and Joanne at 8:37 AM
3 Comments:
This is an excellent article that explains why Portland looks the way it currently does. One of the best articles about Portland transportation I've read. I especially like the part where the city planner is giving tips and pointers to Austin city leaders. The Texan simply couldn't understand why Portland would not build a freeway. "A travesty to turn down a freeway plan." This shows the myopic view of city leaders in Texas, who, to this very day - 2006 - believe that building more freeways is the panacea to urban growth issues. They can't get it through their thick skulls that building freewyas 1) subsidizes urban sprawl, 2) creates MORE congestion, not less, because, and 3) slices the city into mini-ghettos. These are just three that come to mind...
I sent this letter to my congressman yesterday. My congressman, John Culbertson, from 7th district in Houston, decided to withhold support and funds for Houston's second and most important light-rail line - the line essentially linking DOWNTOWN to the GALLERIA. Note: this is the same congressman who recently spearheaded efforts to expand the I-10 freeway in W. Houston to a 20 (twenty) lane monster.
Dear Rep. Culbertson:
In your opposition to the Richmond Ave rail opposition, you state: overwhelming local opposition and detrimental impact. Did you feel this way when you demolished the city of Spring Branch to make way for the Katy freeway expansion? You state: Keeping Houston Livable. But you are neglecting public transportation on the most vital route - downtown to the Galleria. The Richmond line links these two with Greenway Plaza - each of these three centers separately employ more people than nearly every major city's downtown commercial district. Don't kid yourself; a route on Westpark Ave. will fail, because no one lives there, hence no one will benefit from it. You are proposing an NPV negative solution. My location next to Richmond means that I won't be able to benefit by the light rail anymore. I am negatively impacted because of your myopic strategy for Houston. Let the mayors and city officials run Houston. Congress should run the country. I regret that you probably won't write back to me. I have strong feelings about this. Urban development is the only social issue I really care about. I regret that your policies will continue to perpetuate the reality that Houston is one of the ugliest and most un-user friendly cities in America.
Belldar - any thoughts about Beaverton's decision to deny Wal Mart in Cedar Mills? On one hand, you should be pleased because it would negatively impact your sister's neighborhood... and on the other hand you should be frustrated because the majority of the controversy focused on the number of expected vehicles - the science you work with for a living.
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