Commuters and transit officials alike are eagerly awaiting the 2008 opening of a suburb-to-suburb rail line near Portland, Oregon. With few other examples of similar lines in the U.S., officials can only hope the line will be a success.
"As one of the nation's first suburb-to-suburb commuter rails, its success relies on residents in Portland's westside suburbs transforming from gas-guzzling drivers to transit-savvy riders."
"The 14.7-mile rail line has the elements of success, said state Rep. Jerry Krummel, R-Wilsonville, one of the rail's earliest supporters. It links popular job centers in an area stymied by jammed highways that will only worsen as Washington County's population -- at 500,000 -- is expected to increase to 900,000 by 2030."
"'People will take commuter rail when it's just as convenient' as using their cars, Krummel said. 'They might realize it takes just as long to get to work, but they can be reading or looking out the window instead of wanting to pull out their hair.'"
"With a $117.4 million price tag, the stakes are high. If commuter rail doesn't work in Portland's suburbs, Krummel said, it's not going to work elsewhere."
FULL STORY: West side onboard for risky commuter rail ride
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie