-
Reflecting on Yesterday’s JPACT Vote
It’s the first time I’ve ever seen multiple twitter streams covering a Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation (JPACT) meeting! For those of you who haven’t been following the blow-by-blow, freight interests in the region banded together, hired a PR agency to brand their efforts, and made an attempt to shift a significant portion of…
-
Your Questions for Neil
Neil McFarlane will soon take over at TriMet in the role that has been filled for some time now by Fred Hansen. PortlandTransport has arranged to do an on-camera, sit-down interview with Neil shortly after he assumes the new job. The date has not been finalized, but in advance of that, I’d like to solicit…
-
What is The Next Interstate System?
What is the next infrastructure investment for the U.S. comparable to the investment in the Interstate Highway system in the 50’s and 60’s? The retrograde folks who run state highway departments have an answer straight from the 50’s: more urban freeways. (I’d laugh if it didn’t scare me so much). On the more positive side,…
-
Why We Build New Roads As Old Ones Crumble
In a word – politics. Via Planetizen. A new report from U.S. PIRG (PDF, 1.8M) describes the political forces that cause politicians to favor ribbon cuttings over basic maintenance programs: One thing is for sure: the deterioration of our roads and bridges is no accident. Rather, it is the direct result of countless policy decisions…
-
Is There a Rush to Replace Fred?
Updated: 10am Spokesperson Mary Fetsch has provided this list of folks involved in the selection: George Passadore, TriMet’s Board President, appointed board members Rick Van Beveren and Tiffany Sweitzer to join the Board President in forming the TriMet Board Selection Committee. Additionally, to assist the Selection Committee, a Selection Advisory Group was formed to help…