Portland Transport

Author: Chris Smith

  • Oregonian Gets NW Parking Plan Facts Wrong, Continues to Root for More Cars

    A new Oregonian editorial supports the Mayor’s NW Parking Plan resolution (as I do), but then gets the facts completely confused: The plan calls for up to 650 new off-site parking spaces, and Adams said agreements have been reached for the first 200. Businesses want more, and particularly covet a parking garage. A garage might…

  • Apparently it is Possible to Have Too Much Parking

    In zoning, we talk about “parking ratios”, how many parking spaces you’re required to build as a multiple of the number of residential units in a multi-family building. Portland’s ratios can be as low as zero if you’re near a frequent transit line. But a recent review by Bureau of Planning and Sustainability staff (PDF)…

  • KBOO Bike Show: High-tech Retro

    Listen to the show (mp3, 23.9MB) The Bike Show gets high-tech retro with a flashback to materials of the past that are making a splash now. In this episode we talk about wood and wool as the re-imagined, super hot, high tech materials of the future with Adam George, creator and fabricator of Bound Bikes…

  • Speaking of Things that are Overdue

    Someone let the cat out of the bag that the Portland Bureau of Transportation is beginning to explore a street utility fee, local gas tax or other revenue sources to augment or replace declining state gas tax revenues. All I can say is it’s about time. The Portland Plan makes clear why this is an…

  • 20 Years of Parking Wars Coming to an End?

    Or is it just the beginning of the battle royale? Mayor Adams is ready to take his version of a meters-and-permits plan for NW Portland to City Council on Thursday. The plan is supported by the neighborhood association and opposed by the business association. I have lots of history with this, although none of it…