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November 30, 2007
MAX Times 2
Can you say "tipping point"?
Both the Oregonian and the Trib have articles on safety on MAX today, and Fred Hansen is quoted as saying he will speak to the future of Fareless Square during his City Club appearance next week.
Posted by Chris Smith at 10:00 AM | Comments (199) | Permalink
Coming Up on the KBOO Bike Show: Women for Bikes
The KBOO studios just might catch fire with all the powerhouses on air for this month's KBOO Bike Show featuring the Women for Bikes program.
Guests include Alison Hill-Graves from the Community Cycling Center, Janis McDonald from the City of Portland and Barb Grover from the Bike Gallery.
9-10AM, Wednesday, December 5th
KBOO FM 90.7
Streamed live at KBOO.fm
Podcast here later that day
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (3) | Permalink
November 29, 2007
Hillsboro Argus / Oregonian Blog Entry on today's Transit Safety Summit
The first of two safety summits was held today -- the Hillsboro Argus reports: "Quality of life crimes" keep riders off MAX, police say
Excerpt:
Menacing behavior and disorderly conduct are more persistent public safety concerns on the region's light rail system than the threat of violence on board, Gresham leaders and Portland police officials told the TriMet transit agency Thursday.But there are too few police officers on the light rail system to deter or interrupt threatening behavior that make families feel unsafe riding the system, Gresham Chief Carla Piluso said. "Those quality of life crimes that are keeping people off the trains," Piluso said.
"We've had a steep increase in complaints about that in the last 18 months."
Discuss.
Posted by Bob Richardson at 9:22 PM | Comments (7) | Permalink
Upcoming professional development opportunity: Designing Pedestrian Facilities for Accessibility
The Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation (ibpi) is sponsoring an upcoming professional development course on pedestrian accessibility.
This course, developed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP), teaches participants how to apply the guidelines and policies of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to public rights-of-way. The course will examine range of pedestrian disabilities, how people with disabilities use pedestrian facilities, and how restrictive designs affect mobility and safety.
1. Accessibility guidelines and requirements of the ADA
2. Characteristics of pedestrians and the pedestrian environment
3. Legal requirements and funding opportunities (US DOT and FHWA)
4. Obligations to evaluate practices, policies and activities for discrimination and to remove barriers
Participants will learn how to enhance pedestrian mobility, independence and safety through accessible design and the accessible design elements of the pedestrian corridor, including:
1. Accessible driveways and curb ramps
2. Street crossings, including crosswalks, overpasses, underpasses, medians, and islands
3. Intersections and roundabouts
4. Pedestrian signs and signals, including accessible pedestrian signals
5. Temporary facilities and construction site safety
Who should attend?
Urban and transportation planners, landscape architects, designers, engineers, advocates, and others with responsibility for designing, planning, and/or building pedestrian facilities in the public right of way.
Instructor AIDA BERKOVITZ
In 2007, Aida Berkovitz retired from the Federal Highway Administration after a 32-year career as a traffic engineer. For five of those years she worked with the San Francisco Regional office of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, coordinating the safety programs of both agencies. Aida has provided technical assistance and taught courses on pedestrian safety and design for FHWA and APBP. Aida was elected to the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals Board of Directors in 2002, and served as APBP's President in 2005.
For more information
Contact the IBPI at 503-725-4024 or ibpi@pdx.edu
Sponsored by
This course is sponsored by the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation (ibpi). The IBPI’s purpose is to enhance policies, programs, and projects that promote pedestrian and bicycle travel through research, education, and outreach.
Registration
The fee for this professional development course is $295. This includes morning coffee, snacks, lunch, transportation, and course materials. The fee does not include travel, lodging or other meals while in Portland. To register for the program please use the form linked below and fax or mail it in to our office. Registration deadline is January 25th.
Full information about the course can be found here: http://www.ibpi.usp.pdx.edu/accessibility.php
And the registration form can be downloaded here: http://www.ibpi.usp.pdx.edu/media/ibpi accessibility course flier and form.pdf
Posted by Joseph Edge at 9:34 AM | Comments (1) | Permalink
November 28, 2007
A Coming Future When Cars Are Not Privately Owned
Via Planetizen: During a speech on next-generation fuels, the Chairman of Ford Motor Company addresses the problem of traffic congestion and likens it to another long-time concern about automobiles, saying congestion will "soon be just as critical of a vehicle issue as emissions are now." He even goes so far as to suggest that the privately-owned automobile may not be the wave of the future anymore.
Fifty years ago Henry Kaiser said that the only limiting factor on auto sales would be the presence of enough roads to drive them on. Even more telling is when Mr. Ford states that the current model of the privately owned automobile will change."Pointing to efforts under way in India and South Africa to encourage consumers to use bicycles, mopeds and public transportation instead of automobiles, Mr. Ford said, ''The idea of individual car ownership as we know it today will change, too.''
Ford wants ''to be part of that -- not to be frightened by it, but to participate in it,'' he said."
Posted by Joseph Edge at 12:00 AM | Comments (22) | Permalink
November 27, 2007
Follow-Up: Police presence on MAX
The Gresham Outlook has a new article about the increased police presence on MAX in the Gresham area.
The full article details the efforts of police and the reaction of the riders. The end of the article provides 3 weeks' worth of statistics, the first of which I'll excerpt here:
Week one: Nov. 7-12
- 800 citizen contacts
- 56 exclusions from TriMet property
- 13 citations, including five for lack of fare
- 2 felony arrests
In my comment on the Outlook web site about the article, I mentioned the statistics were interesting:
Of the contacts that the police made with individuals (which are a subset of the overall number of people at a given station or on a given train), the rate of cite-able offenses was no greater than 1.6%, and the rate of exclusions from those contacts was no greater than 11%. The highest arrest rate from any of those weeks was 1.2% of all persons contacted.
This will provide more fuel for the debate: Do the statistics represent an unusually high rate of bad behavior on MAX, or (based on the number of police contacts with a subset of the transit-using public) do they show that the overwhelming majority of MAX riders are law-abiding and non-disruptive? If the statistics are high, will a sustained/permanent law enforcement presence be sufficient to substantially deter crime and bad behavior, and if so, what level is required and how many resources will be required to sustain it?
Update [2007-11-28 12:23pm]:
The Forest Grove News Times is now reporting the schedule/location details of the "Safety Summit":
When: 10 a.m. - noon, Friday, Nov. 30 Where: Public Services Bldg, 155 N. First Ave., Hillsboro Note: No time for public comment has been scheduled
Posted by Bob Richardson at 10:57 PM | Comments (30) | Permalink
For Whom The Bridge Tolls
An article in last week's Willamette Week discusses the likelihood that someday we may need to toll the Willamette River bridges to fund their maintenance. This is notoriously a difficult idea to sell to the constituents of Portland, and an increase in vehicle registration fees seems to be much more likely in the near term.
Multnomah County Chairman Ted Wheeler told WW recently he was certain drivers will someday pay a toll to cross Willamette River bridges.Six days later, in a follow-up interview, Wheeler backtracked. “I probably have to tamp my enthusiasm,” he said. “Just raising the idea of tolls on bridges is near-heresy.”
Not in San Francisco, New York City or even Cascade Locks, where drivers have paid tolls for decades. But here in Portland—a city that hasn’t paid a bridge toll since 1895—free rides across the river are seen as a divine right.
How will residents and Multnomah County bridge users be influenced by paying a toll to cross the CRC when it is completed (in whatever form)? Will it be easier or more difficult to sell new tolls to the public once we get used to the idea of paying tolls?
Continue reading For Whom The Bridge Tolls
Posted by Joseph Edge at 8:30 AM | Comments (36) | Permalink
Portland's Cycling History
Portland State University
Center for Transportation Studies
Fall 2007 Transportation Seminar Series
Speaker: Eric Lundgren
Topic: The Wheels of Fortune: Weather Prophet Pague, Governor Geer, & Portland's Original Network of Cycle Paths
A little over a century ago Portland was building and enjoying a network of dedicated bicycle paths. For a brief and glorious half-decade, bicycles were a focus for road-planning and road-building. At a time when Portland seeks to gain Platinum-level recognition as a Bicycle Friendly Community, we can look back at a few of the ingredients in Portland's first golden age of bicycling.
When: Friday, November 30, 2007, 12:00-1:30 pm
Where: 204 Urban Center
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
November 26, 2007
CRC: Here We Go Again
Staff has released about 280 pages of meeting materials [here (PDF, 7MB) and here (PDF, 7MB)] in advance of Tuesday's Task Force Meeting.
Headlines from the staff analysis:
- Upstream replacement bridge is not recommended for further study.
- Light Rail provides better long term performance than Bus Rapid Transit.
- Supplemental Bridge underperforms a Replacement Bridge on most evaluation factors.
Should be an interesting meeting.
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (63) | Permalink
November 21, 2007
Ballot Roundup
Passed on by a reader, here's a site with a roundup of all the transportation ballot measures voted up or down earlier this month.
Reflect on it over your Thanksgiving Holiday. I'll be giving thanks for our contributors and readers here at Portland Transport!
-- Chris
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (2) | Permalink
November 20, 2007
By Request: WES to Salem
To head off a full-blown hijack on another thread, I'm opening up this post for discussion of extending Washington County Commuter rail down to Salem.
The commuter rail line is now known as WES (Westside Express Service).
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:40 PM | Comments (83) | Permalink
The Case for Rail
A nice post on the Intermodality blog reviews a ridership survey for Houston's transit system and makes some nice points about the demographics of rail riders, including the ability of rail to attract new users to transit
Posted by Chris Smith at 8:30 AM | Comments (13) | Permalink
Connecting the Global Warming Dots
It was all over the news this weekend - here's one example - scientists now believe we are at the upper end of the range for how rapidly global warming is occurring and underscore the need to act sooner rather than later.
To make the local connection, 39% of Greenhouse Gases in Multnomah County come from transportation.
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:21 AM | Comments (151) | Permalink
November 19, 2007
Proposed London Car Ban Sparks Criticism
Via Planetizen:
Cars will be banned from some of London’s busiest streets as part of a bold plan to create continental-style boulevards devoted to pedestrians and cyclists.Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, plans to replicate Paris Plage, the beach created on a highway alongside the Seine each August, on the four-lane Victoria Embankment beside the Thames.
He is also considering a ban on through traffic on a series of roads connecting London’s parks and main shopping areas, including Portland Place, which runs between Regent’s Park and Oxford Street.
Continue reading Proposed London Car Ban Sparks Criticism
Posted by Joseph Edge at 8:44 AM | Comments (43) | Permalink
Car Free Cities Conference Call for Proposals
Greetings!
In June of 2008 Portland, Oregon, USA will host an international conference on the future of urban transportation and livability. The eighth annual conference of the World Carfree Network is titled "Towards Carfree Cities: Rethinking Mobility, Rediscovering Proximity".
We are currently soliciting presenters from around the world on this theme and urge you and your colleagues to submit a proposal. Please see the proposal description below, or visit our website http://www.carfreeportland.org for more information and to download a PDF version of Call for Proposals.
Sincerely,
Elly Blue
Conference Organizer
portland@worldcarfree.net
TOWARDS CARFREE CITIES VIII, JUNE 16-20, PORTLAND, OREGON, USA
CALL FOR PROGRAM PROPOSALS
The Towards Carfree Cities conference series brings together people from around the world who are promoting practical alternatives to car dependence. Professionals, activists, and community leaders alike will share how they have been building sustainable transportation systems and promoting the transformation of cities, towns and villages into human-scaled environments rich in public space and community life.
As a part of the carfree movement, the conference seeks to find creative, practical solutions to the environmental, economic, community, and public health problems that arise from car-oriented urban policies, culture, and development. It looks to promote local, diverse, and sustainable neighborhoods that are accessible and pleasurable to everyone in the community.
This year's conference theme is "Rethinking mobility, rediscovering proximity." The theme is intended to promote discussion of urban livability, mixed-use development, local agriculture, pedestrian safety, strong neighborhoods, accessible public space, and sustainable transportation.
PROPOSALS SOLICITED
World Carfree Network and Shift are now seeking program proposals on the theme of "Rethinking Mobility, Rediscovering Proximity". Proposals are requested in the following categories:
* Research abstracts
* Presentations of programs (eg, government, non-profit, or private sector initiatives)
* Presentations of World Carfree Network members' organizational activities
* Panelists on the following topics: a) alternatives to the private automobile; b) closures of parks or city streets to cars, c) carfree towns, housing developments, or shopping districts; d) experiences of carfree individuals and families, e) World Carfree Day events
* Interactive workshops, activities, and tours
* Films
* Works of art
Proposals of 1-2 pages in length, in English, shall include a title and description of the proposed activity, any equipment, time, or space requirements, relevant personal information or experience, and full contact details. Discounted entry for presenters. Send all proposals and questions to proposals@carfreeportland.org or mail to: Shift, PO Box 6662, Portland OR 97228 USA by December 15, 2007. See www.carfreeportland.org for further details about the conference.
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (1) | Permalink
November 16, 2007
REMINDER: We Are ALL Traffic
Update: There will be a number of bike rides from sites of fatal crashes to the Saturday rally. I will be leading one from NW 23rd and Quimby where Sara Cogan, a pedestrian crossing NW 23rd, was killed in 2006. We'll assemble at 11:10am on Saturday for that ride.
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The bicycle community is responding in what I think is a VERY positive way to the challenge of perceived bias in enforcement by the Traffic Division. Seeking to reshape the "cars versus bikes" message portrayed by some of the media, a press conference has been scheduled for Friday at 12:30 PM at City Hall, to be followed by a major rally at Noon on Saturday. I will be participating in both and encourage Portland Transport readers and all transportation advocates to get involved.
You can download the flyer (PDF, 420K), and get updates at the central information page on BikePortland.org.
From the press advisory:
"We Are ALL Traffic." - Concerned citizens make public appeal for action and change.
Portland, OR – Spurred on by the recent string of traffic collisions resulting in cyclists' deaths and injuries, and alarmed by the response and reactions by some elements of law enforcement, the media and the public at large in the wake of these tragedies, we are making an appeal for a commitment by all levels of government and law enforcement, by the media, and by all citizens to come together and work for a positive change in our communities and on our streets.
Friday, November 16: Press Conference
When: Friday, November 16, 2007, 12:30pm
Where: City Hall (1221 SW 4th)
Who: The speakers will consist of 4-5 "concerned citizens" who will voice a number of shared concerns that have arisen in the wake of the recent string of bike/car collisions, and make an appeal for action and positive change with all levels of government, law enforcement, media and all users of the road.
Saturday, November 16: Community Rally for Justice, Equality, and Respect for All Users of the Road.
When: Saturday, November 17, 2007, start at 12:00 noon
Where: Waterfront Park – Salmon Street Springs Fountain (between Hawthorne and Morrison Bridges)
Who: Speakers from a variety of backgrounds will address the crowd about the concerns at hand and make an appeal for change and action. All parties involved will be asked to make a strong commitment to make our streets safer for all road users, and for everyone – whether driving or riding - to share the road in a responsible, safe and courteous manner.
Posted by Chris Smith at 9:43 AM | Comments (30) | Permalink
TriMet promises fresh eye on crime/Fearing Milwaukie's MAX
The Oregonian reports that TriMet is under fire from the state legislature to "address real and perceived safety problems" on and near the light rail line or possibly face resistance by the state when it comes to appropriating future funding for rail expansion projects. In February, Trimet must report back to the legislature about the status of any safety improvements and the effects thereof. There was no mention of expanding the scope of the inquiry into the safety of public transit facilities in general, only safety of the MAX line, stations, and adjacent areas.
On Tuesday...Hansen acknowledged that the way the first MAX line was designed in the 1980s might be partly to blame for crime near stations.The Blue Line to Gresham opened with some stops built next to Interstate 84, separated from businesses and neighborhoods by bridges that block views of platforms, Hansen said. Riders may feel more vulnerable there than at stops next to high-traffic streets and sidewalks.
But stops by streets and sidewalks make it easier to board without buying tickets. Critics have said those who don't buy tickets are more likely to cause problems.
Hansen contended that perceptions of widespread fare evading may not match reality.
Half of riders use monthly passes, so they don't pay a fare at stations, Hansen said. And police report that drug dealers pay fares so officers looking for fare evaders don't catch them.
Hansen said he is willing to restrict access to a MAX station in Gresham as an experiment to reduce crime, as Bemis requested.
Read the full article here
Additionally, the Clackamas Review reports that some residents of Milwaukie are suddenly up in arms about the proposed light-rail extension to their city as a result of recent violence near a Gresham MAX platform. The article provides insight into the minds of some of the opposition to the years old, revived MAX project.
“If I had an old-fashioned telephone switchboard, it would have been lit up like a Christmas tree today” with calls on the light rail crime, Zumwalt, vice chair of the Historic Milwaukie Neighborhood District Association, told the council. “Someone is going to have to step up” and protect the city.“In 20 years we’ll be sitting in a slum, and it’s up to you folks to do something right now.”
...
Mayor James Bernard assured a packed council chambers that the board would not allow a project until it has been deemed safe and unlikely to increase crime.
“I told TriMet if our police chief isn’t satisfied, I’m not endorsing the plan … and until he’s satisfied, I’m not going to be satisfied.”
But Bernard said he would like to see light rail come, noting benefits like sustainability, reducing oil dependence, redevelopment of downtown and access to jobs in the region.
The combination of these two points is key, as from my own personal experience I can testify that there are "real and perceived" threats to public safety at Milwaukie's own transit center - where there is no MAX stop. The "real and perceived" safety of the transit-using public should be analyzed and addressed not just in the locations of MAX trains, platforms, and adjacent blocks, but at transit centers and bus stops as well. Additionally, residents of Milwaukie should take note that criminal activity has been an issue at their transit center years before ground will be broken for their light rail line. Our focus is better squared on improving public safety in general than it would be to attempt to prevent transportation options from being provided to the public because of misguided blame.
Posted by Joseph Edge at 8:50 AM | Comments (107) | Permalink
Gordon Price on Integrating Transportation and Land Use
On Thursday November 29th, 2007 Gordon Price will give a free presentation on the effective integration of transportation in high-density environments, with an emphasis on land use. Price is a former City of Vancouver, B.C. Councilor and current Simon Fraser University and University of British Columbia Professor who teaches, researches, and writes extensively on urban development and planning.
What: Gordon Price Presentation
When: Thursday, 11/29/2007. 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: Portland Building, 1120 SW 5th Ave, 2nd Floor Auditorium
Cost: Free and Open to the Public
Questions?
Contact: Scott Cohen
City of Portland, Office of Transportation
scott.cohen@pdxtrans.org
(503) 823-5345
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
November 15, 2007
Red-light rundown
Tuesday, the Portland Tribune ran an article to debunk some of the myths surrounding red light cameras in Portland. It is a fairly quick read and rather informative for those of us who aren't familiar with the local version of the program.
While city leaders and city police still hear the complaints once in a while - about Big Brother, about traffic enforcement simply for revenue generation, about the inability to cross-examine a machine - the red-light cameras operating during the last several years at five of the city’s busiest intersections seem to have worked.At least based on some important barometers: Red-light running at those intersections is down, as are vehicle crashes, and injuries in vehicle crashes.
So the city is doubling its red-light enforcement program. Last month, it added another intersection to those that have been monitored by cameras since late 2001 and early 2002 - an intersection right next to City Hall, coincidentally.
During the next three months or so, cameras will be added to five more intersections that have had high numbers of red-light running, vehicle crashes and crash injuries.
Continue reading Red-light rundown
Posted by Joseph Edge at 10:53 AM | Comments (16) | Permalink
Bus vs. light rail
An article published yesterday in the Portland Tribune directly addressed one of the more popular debates of the pro-transit crowd: buses vs. light rail. The author compares the two modes on several different aspects and assigns a winner to each category, eventually concluding with an "overall" winner. Despite the competitive overtones this is no grudge match, and the author tosses in a disclaimer that we would all be wise to heed:
"...buses and trains are really on the same team in terms of sustainable transportation — either option a vast improvement over the one-car, one-rider model..."
Here's a taster:
AccessA fixed-rail system never will have the reach of a city bus, which can get just about any place there’s a paved road. For folks in some parts of the Portland area, this debate is academic:
If there’s no MAX train nearby, their mass-transit commuting will have to be done by bus.
Advantage: Bus
ComfortStudies suggest that light rail appeals to actual riders in a way that buses do not. Commuters tend to see light rail as more modern, more upscale and safer, with no real possibility of operator error.
Rail cars are more spacious, offer more freedom of movement and are easier to board and exit. And the ride is smoother: fewer sharp turns, no potholes, no sudden stops.
“People tend to like the quieter transit,” says Mary Fetsch of TriMet.
Advantage: Light rail
Find out who wins: Bus vs. light rail
Posted by Joseph Edge at 12:00 AM | Comments (108) | Permalink
November 14, 2007
National Transportation Expert Michael Replogle at Metro Monday
Join national transportation expert Michael Replogle for a discussion:
Replogle is a nationally renowned civil engineer and transportation modeling expert with Environmental Defense, a national nonprofit organization that since 1967, has linked science, economics and law to create innovative, equitable and cost-effective solutions to society's most urgent environmental problems.
Replogle manages Environmental Defense's initiatives to coordinate transportation, land use, and natural resource plans and programs in order to enhance public health, equity and environmental quality. He is an expert on federal transportation law and policy, transportation impact analysis, and strategies to reduce traffic and pollution through incentives, smart growth, marketing and improved accountability.
Replogle will host a brown bag from 12:00-1:00pm on November 19th in the Council Chambers. This will be an informational presentation so please spread the word to interested people.
Posted by Chris Smith at 8:41 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Biodiesel craze turns fryer grease to gold
This article, from the Daily Journal of Commerce, gives insight into the present recycled cooking oil market in Portland and the effects due to the popularity of biodiesel. Mostly gone are the days of getting used oil for free, some restaurants are now charging up to $1.20 per gallon to collect their used grease to be converted to biodiesel.
“You have processors now in the metro area who are looking at using that grease for biodiesel primarily,” Mike McCallum, president and CEO of the Oregon Restaurant Association, said. “There are restaurants who are being solicited for the use of the grease and are getting some money for it.”
While this is indicative of an increasing demand for biodiesel in Portland, it also likely means increased prices for the end-user.
The result in the long run may be more expensive biodiesel at the pump.
“It’s going to drive the cost of biodiesel sky-high,” Loren Fennell, founder of the Alternative Energy Coalition, who collected used oil for years for Portland biodiesel cooperatives before quitting due to the increased competition.
Continue reading "Biodiesel craze turns fryer grease to gold"
Posted by Joseph Edge at 12:07 AM | Comments (9) | Permalink
November 13, 2007
Bay Area Drivers Would Support Global Warming Gas Tax
This article, on Planetizen, describes the results of a survey of 1,800 Bay Area residents that included questions asking if they would be willing to pay an increased gas tax if the additional revenue were dedicated to efforts to curb "greenhouse gas emissions," including researching alternative fuel, improving transportation options, and reducing congestion. The article goes on to compare the results of the Bay Area study to similar research conducted internationally with similar findings.
"Would Bay Area residents, already saddled with the highest gas prices in the country, be willing to pay a 25-cent fee on a gallon of gas if the money were spent to reduce the effects of global warming? According to a new poll, the answer is an unresounding “yes.”
"Preliminary findings indicate that Bay Area residents were “mostly willing to pay 25 cents more” (but opposed 50 cents) for a gallon of gas “if it would be used to limit or reduce global warming,” according to a recent telephone poll commissioned by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.
The residents also indicated they would want the additional revenue from such an increase to go toward providing more transit services and research into alternative fuels and cleaner engines, according to the memo”.
Continue reading "Bay Area Drivers Would Support Global Warming Gas Tax"
Posted by Joseph Edge at 8:17 AM | Comments (5) | Permalink
Transit's Dirty Little Secret?
Portland State University
Center for Transportation Studies
Fall 2007 Transportation Seminar Series
Speaker: Dr. Brian Taylor, Professor of Urban Planning and Director, Institute of Transportation Studies, UCLA
Topic: Transit's Dirty Little Secret: Analyzing Patterns of Transit Use
When: Friday, November 16, 2007, 12:00-1:30 pm
Where: 204 Urban Center
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (19) | Permalink
November 12, 2007
Easier-to-find Parking will Reduce Congestion?
We'll see. Just in time for the holiday shopping season, an electronic system will relay information about parking availability in three downtown Smart Park garages to a sign at the foot of the Morrison Bridge.
Details in the Daily Journal of Commerce.
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (5) | Permalink
November 9, 2007
Watch Our Money Burn Up
The Sightline Institute has created a little widget that shows us the spending in our state on gas and oil.
I thought about putting it in the sidebar for this site, but decided it would be a little busy after the novelty wears off. If you'd like your own copy, you can get it here.
Posted by Chris Smith at 10:00 AM | Comments (6) | Permalink
November 8, 2007
Reading the Tea Leaves
Proposition 1 up in Puget Sound, with $30B in transit funding and $16B in lane-miles for roads, went down Tuesday. There seem to be a variety of theories on why:
- Voters were just saying "NO" to new taxes.
- Voters wanted to pick and choose projects, rather than buy into a bundle.
- Perhaps most intriguing, the Daily Score suggests that voters wanted an accounting of climate change impacts of the investments, and cites a number of 'no' recommendations from environmental and progressive organizations.
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (8) | Permalink
November 7, 2007
KBOO Bike Show: Framebuilders
Listen to the show (mp3, 12.7M)
Carl and Tori talk with local framebuilders Natalie Ramsland and Tony Pereira about building bikes in Portland and the upcoming Oregon Handmade Bicycle Show happening on November 11th.
Posted by Bike Show at 11:00 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
November 6, 2007
Tip of the Hat, Wag of the Finger: Interstate and Greeley
Tip of the Hat to Commissioner Sam Adams who closed the right turn from Interstate onto Greeley after the second serious car/bike crash in two weeks.
Wag of the Finger to the Portland Police Bureau who declined to issue a citation or conduct an investigation despite eyewitness accounts that would suggest the possibility of erratic driving by the operator of the car.
Posted by Chris Smith at 10:42 PM | Comments (64) | Permalink
Better Parking
If there is such a thing :-)
The PSU Quarterly Journal on Urban Development (I got it by e-mail, I have not yet found a link) has an interesting article on underground, multi-block parking development (PDF, 1.9M). The virtues of this form of parking are:
- It's underground and out of sight.
- It's more efficient from both a floor-plate and construction cost point of view (especially with Portland's 200 foot blocks.
- By aggregating supply for multiple land use types, the result is less overall parking because the peak demand periods are complementary.
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (15) | Permalink
November 5, 2007
Transit is Fun
A counterpoint to all the crime discussion...
An opinion piece in the Charlotte Observer makes a good case for one of the ways transit enhances livability: it makes experiencing cities easy and fun.
Posted by Chris Smith at 8:28 AM | Comments (48) | Permalink
November 4, 2007
Gresham Police to Ride MAX
I don't generally post over the weekend, but as this story keeps evolving...
As reported in the Oregonian, Mayor Shane Bemis of Gresham will detail officers from his city's police force to ride MAX.
While a TriMet spokesperson is quoted as welcoming the move, the Mayor cites "TriMet's failure to realize they have issues."
In breaking news over the weekend, a 71-year-old man was beaten by a youth at a Gresham MAX station. According to the Oregonian, the youth is a suspected gang member and was arrested by Gresham police.
[UPDATE 5:31PM - B.R.]
TriMet has issued a news release today. The text of the release is also posted in the comments, below.
Posted by Chris Smith at 7:33 PM | Comments (106) | Permalink
November 2, 2007
Higher Bar for Sustainable Biofuels
The Daily Journal of Commerce reports on an analysis by the Oregon Environmental Council that suggests that whether biofuels improve sustainability is a function of their full lifecycle impacts, including the source of feedstock biomass.
Posted by Chris Smith at 8:38 AM | Comments (1) | Permalink
November 1, 2007
Roads to be Issue in Wilsonville House Race
The Daily Journal of Commerce is reporting that Associated General Contractors' lobbyist Jessica Adamson will announce today as a Democratic candidate for the Oregon House seat being vacated by Jerry Krummel. She will make transportation a central issue in her campaign, according the headline of the article.
On the Republican side in the same race, former Cascade Policy Institute staffer Matt Wingard is already declared.
But both candidates expect transportation to take center stage in the 2008 campaign.
The district is mulling several large road projects, including the controversial Newberg-Dundee bypass, a widening of Tualatin-Sherwood Road and construction of a link between Tualatin’s industrial district and Interstate 5.
“The issue across the district is people want the roads,” Wingard said.
Posted by Chris Smith at 9:46 AM | Comments (36) | Permalink
Better Late Than Never
They're finally getting around to rezoning Interstate Ave for transit-oriented development, how many years after the Yellow Line opened?
Posted by Chris Smith at 12:00 AM | Comments (9) | Permalink
