Portland Transport

Author: Chris Smith

  • Balancing Roads and Transit in the Stimulus

    Over the weekend, the Wall Street Journal reported on Jim Oberstar’s efforts to steer a larger split of the funding pie to transit in the stimulus package. Meanwhile, over on the Streetsblog Network they’re covering Transportation for America’s push for a greener stimulus.

  • Our Annual Appeal

    Well, it’s that time of year again – no, not the holidays, although we wish all our readers a happy, joyous and safe holiday season. It’s year-end tax deduction time, and we hope you will remember Portland Transport in your IRS strategizing. Our operating expenses are small but real, and it’s also important to maintaining…

  • Likely Appointment of LaHood Greeted with Skepticism

    The probable appointment of Rep. Ray LaHood (R- IL) as Secretary of Transportation has alternative transportation advocates scratching their heads. He has little background in transportation. He has supported cycling (he’s a member of Earl’s bicycle caucus) and has shown some support for Amtrak, but otherwise doesn’t appear to have a strong background. The Overhead…

  • Keeping the Stimulus in Focus

    The Friends of Earth have released a report titled “Road to Ruin” identifying 27 highway projects they are unnecessary and unbalanced. The report underscores a key imbalance between road and transit funding from the Federal Government. Uneven Playing Field–To gain approval and federal funding, transit projects face far more intense scrutiny than highway projects. While…

  • The Resilience of the 20-minute Neighborhood

    While the TV is showing cars slipping and sliding all over Portland (as someone who lived the first 27 years of his life in New England, I can’t help a chuckle over what one inch of snow does to this city), I’m finding life here in my neighborhood relatively calm. Yesterday I was able to…