Daniel Friedman, writing on behalf of the Downtown Neighborhood Association, has an op-ed piece in today’s Tribune, arguing to keep the Streetcar in Free Rail Zone. The core of the argument is that downtown has unique characteristics that support a unique fare structure. Here are the four main bullets: Most of the people who live…

Portland Streetcar will hold a public hearing on December 13th to help determine if the bridge plates for the new vehicles for the Loop pass muster: Notice is hereby given that The City of Portland will hold a public hearing regarding its intent to request a finding of equivalent facilitation for the bridge plates of…

Last week, PBOT and Portland Streetcar Inc held two open houses regarding fare policy when the Streetcar Loop opens next year. Taking Streetcar out of Free Rail Zone is under serious consideration. You still have one more opportunity to add your voice via a “virtual open house” (PDF).

There’s been a bit of buzz about Streetcar fares lately, usually framed as “Streetcar is about to drop out of Free Rail Zone.” That may happen (in fact it probably will), but I’d suggest it’s the wrong way to frame the question. The real question is “what’s an appropriate fare structure for the Streetcar Loop?”…