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Transportation on the Cheap
A common criticism of Portland’s Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) is that it drives up housing costs. While I believe there is ample evidence that housing costs have risen even more dramatically in many sprawling regions, a new report offers evidence that Portland’s compact urban form generates an economic benefit in reduced transportation costs. Driven to…
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Wanted: 3000 Donuts
The Bicycle Transportation Alliance is searching for 3000 donuts. At a recent staff meeting, our Program Director Brita Johnson asked if we knew where to find 3000 donuts. That’s right, 250 dozen. Well, Voodoo Donuts has their Tex-Ass Sized donuts, but asking them to make 3000 cool donuts isn’t a likely winner. Perhaps Franz Bakery,…
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Another Metro Councilor Lays Out a Vision
What do global warming, the end of “cheap oil” and the Legislature’s refusal to raise gas taxes the 12th session in a row have in common? Together they are creating the perfect storm for transportation as we know it. Storms sink most boats but they also give rise to great surfing for those who anticipate…
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One Metro Councilor Challenges the Status Quo
For the last 30 to 50 years, transportation planning in the United States has been: 1. Carried out largely in isolation from regional, city or neighborhood land use planning, even though we know transportation investments shape property values and land uses and land use regulations play a major role in travel patterns. 2. Based on…