Atlanta Looks To Portland For Ideas

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes that as congested as the City of Portland is, life outside of the region's urban growth boundary is different. They contrast the "[f]ertile green farmland" to Atlanta, "where urbanized growth continues to inch its way out, suburbs seem never to end, and trees are swept from the landscape like clutter under a broom." Georgia Transportation officials have recently paid a visit to Portland, OR to observe those differences. "State Rep. Doug Stoner (D-Smyrna), who accompanied state Transportation Board members to Portland, said projections that the region's population will grow by 2.3 million during the next 25 years give metro Atlanta an opportunity to set new land use and transportation policies." The general manager for TriMet, Portland's transit system, "acknowledged much of what Portland has done wouldn't be easily duplicated in Georgia, adding, 'But maybe there are some lessons to be learned.' "