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Another Reason for Streetcar to Celebrate
Just in time for the fifth birthday celebration for Portland Streetcar, word just in that the Oregon Transportation Commission has awarded $2.1M from Connect Oregon to the Lowell St. extension. This should cap the funding plan for the extension and insure the opening of another segment in about a year. Connect Oregon is a $100M…
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Washington Groups Say Rail is an Answer
Across the river in Washington, stakeholder groups advising the State Transportation Commission are recommending more freight rail capacity as a strategy to reduce highway congestion. The strategy is two-fold: – Reduce growth in truck traffic – Reduce current freight rail congestion that is slowing passenger trains Any chance of getting similarly enlightened thinking on this…
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Innovating the Last Mile
One of the conundrums of the age of e-commerce is the so-called “last mile” problem, getting a delivery from the local depot to the actual delivery address. In the case of residential deliveries, this has not just VMT impacts, but also impacts on neighborhood livability. I see Fedex, UPS and DHL trucks on my local…
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Oregonian “Gets It” on Freight
On today’s editorial page, the Oregonian has figured out what the freight community keeps ignoring: shifting SOV drivers to alternate modes is good for freight! As gas prices hit $3 per gallon, it’s not just individual motorists rethinking their way of getting around the region. Businesses are, too. And as an understanding of the region’s…
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Congestion and the Last Mile
Hat tip to reader Randy Evans who passed on this link for a European pilot program on managing congestion due to city-center deliveries. What might a similar program look like here in our region?