Author: EngineerScotty

  • TriMet announces new Type 5 MAX vehicle

    In response to criticism that it is underfunding its bus system in favor of rail, TriMet has announced plans to cancel a prior solicitation for rolling stock as part of the Portland-Milwaukie project. Instead of purchasing conventional light-rail EMUs (Electric Multiple Units), the agency instead intends to partner with Oregon Iron Works to build a…

  • April 2012 Open Thread

    It’s the first of the month, that month being April, so a new open thread is, well, open. To get things started: A coding error may have added to the controversy of Milwaukie MAX, when a Milwaukie councilman was accused of having a conflict of interest with regard to the project. The City of Portland…

  • WeAllRideTheBus and reform at TriMet

    One of the interesting developments of the past few weeks is that the organizational efforts of OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon seem to be bearing fruit. TriMet’s recent scaled-back service cuts seem to take many of OPAL’s concerns into account (notwithstanding the warning that additional cuts may be back on the table if labor negotiations don’t…

  • Anti-LRT petitions being circulated in SW Corridor cities

    The Portland Tribune is reporting that groups in four cities which may be affected by the Southwest Corridor project–Tigard, King City, Tualatin, and Sherwood, have filed initiative petitions with respective city governments. (This was previously mentioned in the open thread; now petitions have been filed). The petitions, if able to collect sufficient numbers of signatures…

  • Full Steam Ahead for CRC?

    Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood doesn’t think the river clearance issue recently raised by the Coast Guard, will pose a problem from the Columbia River Crossing.