Friday, February 25, 2005
Portland streetcar goes another half mile
People who don't live in Portland have another reason to be envious of the smart-growth city: It just extended its 7-mile-per-hour downtown streetcar line by another one-half mile. This cost just $15.8 million, about as much as the cost of two to three miles of freeway lanes. Of course, those freeway lane miles would each carry only about 30,000 passenger miles a day, while the half-mile of new streetcar line will probably carry around 500 to 1,000 passenger miles a day. So it was obviously a good investment.
Good old Republican Senator Gordon Smith wants Congress to waive import tariffs on the streetcars, which Portland buys from the Czech Republic. That will save the city about $100,000 per car.
The next step, already underway, is to extend the streetcar down to the controversial South Macadam area, where the city has promised a total of $255 million in subsidies to see the development of about 3,000 new condos in high-rise waterfront buildings that will destroy the views of thousands of existing residents. From there, commuters will be able to take an aerial tram to "hospital hill," the location of the Oregon Health Sciences University and several other hospitals. Why drive when you can ride a 7-mph streetcar and 10-mph tramway?
Good old Republican Senator Gordon Smith wants Congress to waive import tariffs on the streetcars, which Portland buys from the Czech Republic. That will save the city about $100,000 per car.
The next step, already underway, is to extend the streetcar down to the controversial South Macadam area, where the city has promised a total of $255 million in subsidies to see the development of about 3,000 new condos in high-rise waterfront buildings that will destroy the views of thousands of existing residents. From there, commuters will be able to take an aerial tram to "hospital hill," the location of the Oregon Health Sciences University and several other hospitals. Why drive when you can ride a 7-mph streetcar and 10-mph tramway?
Comments:
This was an excellant article on how Light Rail is changing Portland for the better. From the Article:
>>>>Smith noted that condominium developments are under way near the streetcar extension. "When you see public investment attracting private capital, there are very bright days ahead," he said. <<<<<
The luxury towers mean tens of millions in new tax revenues for the city and all of this private investment due to the streetcar extnesion. Incredible.
Property values all along that line are going to increase and many homeowners will see their investment double in the next 5 years! Even though the streecar does not travel fast, it won't matter because jobs in abundance will be close by (Thanks to mixed use development) so you'll never have to drive the dangerous freeway again during rush hour! You'll be able to walk to work or take the streetcar as the office will be minutes away!
If the city of Portland spent the money on additional highways, it would have ment more polution and cancer for those living next to that expressway. The expressway would have ment more people moving OUT OF Portand instead of moving into the city! Furthermore, the cost of maintaining and policing this "freeway" would have been in the tens of millions over the next decade not counting the scores of lives lost in accidents!
Portland and many cities have finally come to their senses when it comes to urban planning. If you come to this city five years from now, you'll see a prosperous town rich in every way imaginable.
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>>>>Smith noted that condominium developments are under way near the streetcar extension. "When you see public investment attracting private capital, there are very bright days ahead," he said. <<<<<
The luxury towers mean tens of millions in new tax revenues for the city and all of this private investment due to the streetcar extnesion. Incredible.
Property values all along that line are going to increase and many homeowners will see their investment double in the next 5 years! Even though the streecar does not travel fast, it won't matter because jobs in abundance will be close by (Thanks to mixed use development) so you'll never have to drive the dangerous freeway again during rush hour! You'll be able to walk to work or take the streetcar as the office will be minutes away!
If the city of Portland spent the money on additional highways, it would have ment more polution and cancer for those living next to that expressway. The expressway would have ment more people moving OUT OF Portand instead of moving into the city! Furthermore, the cost of maintaining and policing this "freeway" would have been in the tens of millions over the next decade not counting the scores of lives lost in accidents!
Portland and many cities have finally come to their senses when it comes to urban planning. If you come to this city five years from now, you'll see a prosperous town rich in every way imaginable.
