July 3, 2009
Video: Green Line First Ride Event, Part 1 of 2
The Green Line expansion of the MAX Light Rail system from Downtown Portland to Clackamas Town Center will open later this summer. On June 30th, a "First Ride" preview event occurred where a couple of hundred individuals including a number of public officials rode the route.
Part 1 features interviews with TriMet General Manager Fred Hansen, Councilor Greg Chaimov (City of Milwaukie), Representative David Wu (D-OR), and TriMet Director for Capital Projects Neil McFarlane.
Posted by Bob Richardson at 12:27 PM | Comments (3) | Permalink
July 2, 2009
Video: Streetcar Unveililng, with Interviews
Video of yesterday's streetcar unveiling, with short interviews with Rep. DeFazio and Rep. Blumenauer. In particular, I asked both representatives about funding opportunities for improving transit access in existing corridors which are not slated for streetcar or light rail projects.
Posted by Bob Richardson at 12:21 PM | Comments (5) | Permalink
Public Comment Draft of Streetcar System Plan Released
A forty-five day public comment period began yesterday on the Streetcar System Plan, leading to a Planning Commission hearing on August 14th and City Council consideration in September. The plan, a 20-50 year vision of where Streetcars might run in...
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Posted by Chris Smith at 4:26 AM | Comments (38) | Permalink
July 1, 2009
Video: Secretary LaHood's remarks at today's Streetcar Unveiling Event
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Posted by Bob Richardson at 4:02 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Red, White and Blue Streetcar
I attended my second 'first ride' in two days as Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood visited Portland for the first passenger trip on the first made-in-USA Streetcar in 60 years. Our congressional delegation effused over job creation, sustainability and mom...
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Posted by Chris Smith at 1:18 PM | Comments (18) | Permalink
KBOO Bike Show: Bicycle Justice
Listen to the show (mp3, 27.8MB) Sara and Elly host a conversation about bicycle justice, with lawyer Bob Mionske, author of Cycling and the Law and social worker Meghan Sinnott. Mionske discusses the biases against bicycling inherent in law...
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Posted by Chris Smith at 12:47 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
June 30, 2009
Impressions from the Green Line
Today was the first VIP ride on the Green Line and I had the chance to join anybody and everybody involved in transportation in the region to ride out to Clackamas Town Center. My biggest overall impression was probably...
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Posted by Chris Smith at 5:14 PM | Comments (17) | Permalink
June 29, 2009
You Too Can Serve on a Streetcar Advisory Committee
All right, technically there's still a non-streetcar option in the mix: Dear community member, Thank you for your interest in the Lake Oswego to Portland Transit Project. As many of you know, we are beginning the next phase of analysis...
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Posted by Chris Smith at 6:52 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Efforts to Address Climate Change Inch Forward
In Salem, we have a new Greenhouse Gas Emissions Task Force. Here's a note from the Oregon Environmental Council on the bill: House Bill 2186 passed the Senate Wednesday evening, the House concurred with Senate amendments Thursday, and the bill...
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Posted by Chris Smith at 12:29 AM | Comments (16) | Permalink
June 26, 2009
TriMet Goes for Lowest Cost Bridge
As the Daily Journal of Commerce reports, because: "When you look at the two pictures (of the bridge designs), most people can't tell the difference," [TriMet spokesperson Mary] Fetsch said. That sounds like something an agency with no elected leadership...
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Posted by Chris Smith at 7:06 AM | Comments (33) | Permalink
Updated: Visit A Climate Action Plan Town Hall
Updated: 6/26/09 An additional town hall has been added: Saturday, July 11 / 2:00-4:00 pm David Douglas High School 1001 SE 135th Original Post: 6/2/09 Climate Action Plan Town Halls Join the conversation. The City of Portland and...
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Posted by Chris Smith at 12:28 AM | Comments (31) | Permalink
June 25, 2009
Freeway Loop-The 2nd Domino in the CRC Process
I know the main focus of debate on the future of the I-5 system in the Portland area has of late been on the future of the Columbia River crossing. One "wild card" that will be arguable for years is...
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Posted by Ron Swaren at 9:32 PM | Comments (12) | Permalink
Local Streetcar Manufacturing Stimulating Economy
The Daily Journal of Commerce focuses on one company where a Streetcar sub-contract resulted in re-hiring 10 employees....
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Posted by Chris Smith at 7:52 AM | Comments (3) | Permalink
Speed Signs: Limits or Useful Information?
Via Hard Drive: the How We Drive blog asks whether speed signs should tell us the limit of how fast we can can, or how fast we should go to optimize our trip?...
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Posted by Chris Smith at 12:25 AM | Comments (3) | Permalink
June 24, 2009
TriMet Lays Out Fareless Square, Cuts Strategy
Frequent commenter Jason McHuff left this over on the open thread: -Fareless Square Change Proposed: limiting it to rail only, with Green and Yellow Line replacing free bus service on the mall -Bus Frequency Reductions Proposed (details): Many main lines...
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Posted by Chris Smith at 4:10 PM | Comments (29) | Permalink
Coming Up on the KBOO Bike Show: Bicycle Justice
Sara and Elly host a conversation about bicycle justice, with lawyer Bob Mionske, author of Cycling and the Law and social worker Meghan Sinnott. Mionske will discuss the biases against bicycling inherent in law enforcement, the court system and the...
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Posted by Chris Smith at 7:20 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Oregon Needs a Few Good Environmentalists
No less than three Oregon environmental organizations are seeking new Executive Directors: 1000 Friends of Oregon Oregon League of Conservation Voters Environment Oregon Send in those resumes....
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Posted by Chris Smith at 12:14 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
June 23, 2009
Tire Chalk Goes High Tech
There's no fooling the camera to avoid that parking ticket. Via Planetizen....
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Posted by Chris Smith at 7:34 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
What We're Going to See on the Road
Portland State University Center for Transportation Studies Summer 2009 Transportation Seminar Series Speaker: Geoff Rose, Institute of Transport Studies, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Monash University, Melbourne Australia. Topic: Emerging types of private vehicles and their implications for road system management...
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Posted by Chris Smith at 12:36 AM | Comments (2) | Permalink
June 22, 2009
Full Transportation Bill Draft Released
T4America has the details, I haven't had a chance to take a look yet....
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Posted by Chris Smith at 11:39 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Biggest First LRT
Phoenix has opened it's first light rail line (at 22 miles the longest initial segment in any American city) to rave reviews. Streetfilms has the visuals....
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Posted by Chris Smith at 7:20 AM | Comments (4) | Permalink
Keep up the CRC Pressure
While the Columbia River Crossing project is under pressure from any number of angles, we can't let up. Please be an active voice in several upcoming open houses: June Open Houses: Tuesday, June 23, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.: Jantzen...
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Posted by Chris Smith at 12:22 AM | Comments (11) | Permalink
June 21, 2009
A Good Time Was Had By All
Transportation Planner, Activist, Chanteuse and sometimes Portland Transport contributor Ellen Vanderslice performing at Arbor Lodge Park as part of Sunday Parkways 2009 The Good Kind of Congestion Fun for All Ages Since the weather forecast suggested showers might show...
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Posted by Chris Smith at 5:12 PM | Comments (1) | Permalink
