A Portland transit planner from the days when buses were the primary means of getting around says the system is headed in the wrong direction and service is declining.
Jim Howell worked for TriMet in the 1970s, and ran a private bus company in the 1980s. He believes that Portland's significant investment in light rail may have sapped money away from the convenience of bus transit.
"...for the bus rider seeking a quick and convenient ride, this rosy picture is not all it seems. 'The problem is Portland never added to the grid,' said Howell, adding that large swaths of the city are bereft of cross-town service. He cites two places in 'dire need': the stretch between Clackamas Town Center and Washington Square and along Columbia Boulevard, 'where the jobs are.'
Thanks to Ben Serviss
FULL STORY: An Activist Pokes Holes in Transit Policy

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