Portland Transport

Author: Chris Smith

  • Inelastic Demand

    This week’s Business Week has an article (“Can’t Stop Guzzling”) that suggests that higher gas prices are NOT reducing driving, except perhaps among lower income drivers. The Oregonian’s Jim Mayer finds the same effect looking at vacation travel in Oregon. One theory I’ve heard before is that changes in driving behavior will only occur if…

  • TOD Tax Credit Expanded, but Under Review

    Portland City Council is reviewing a number of its tax abatement programs. In fact, there is now a moratorium on the multi-unit housing abatement. The abatement for Transit-Oriented Develop is also being reviewed, but is still available. In fact, the eligible areas have been expanded to include more Light Rail stations. The TOD program is…

  • See the Share the Road Mural

    I can’t think of a better way to celebrate a multi-modal city! Here are the particulars from Sara Stout: After many months of planning and three weeks of painting, the Share the Road Mural on SE Hawthorne Blvd. is now almost finished! We will be working on the final touches during the next few day’s…

  • Thinking Electric

    Having missed the premiere event, I got a chance to see “Who Killed The Electric Car?” on Friday and came away both depressed by way our democracy can conspire to suppress innovation, but also optimistic about the strong advocacy that continues for the technologies involved.

  • Momentum

    It’s been a great week for Portland Streetcar: On Wednesday the Oregon Transportation Commission awarded $2.1M of Connect Oregon funds to cap off the funding plan for the Lowell Extension. On Thursday the Metro Council unanimously adopted the Locally Preferred Alternative for the Eastside Streetcar, completing a sweep of unanimous votes from local governments and…