Monday, May 15, 2006
What's Ahead for MAX? Death
The Sunday Oregonian rhetorically asks about the future of Portland's light-rail (MAX) lines, while the Monday Oregonian provides an answer: another pedestrian fatality.
The Sunday article is reasonably fair and balanced, pointing out that MAX costs far more to build than bus lines, and while it costs less to operate than the average bus, fares collected by many of the more popular bus lines actually cover their operating costs while MAX operating costs are $1.18 more than fares. It also adds that bus ridership on "frequent-service bus lines" is growing as fast as rail ridership, implying that riders are sensitive to frequencies, not to whether the transit service is on rubber tires or steel wheels.
The article also mentions the claim that MAX generated billions of dollars of development projects, but points out that "Critics say growth would have fueled this development anyway." It adds that redevelopment along the latest route "has been underwhelming." Development on the airport line is now taking place with an IKEA and Costco, but these two retailers were not at all attracted by the light rail; instead, it is the proximity to Washington shoppers who won't have to pay sales taxes for what they buy in Oregon.
If the article was fairly balanced, the headline in the hardcopy edition -- but not the on-line edition -- was not. Instead, it erroneously claims, "the sleek, quiet MAX trains now carry one of every four commuters heading east or west." The truth is they carry one of every four downtown commuters heading east or west, but not commuters to other employment areas. Since downtown only has about 10 percent of the region's jobs, that just is not very many commuters.
The Sunday article is reasonably fair and balanced, pointing out that MAX costs far more to build than bus lines, and while it costs less to operate than the average bus, fares collected by many of the more popular bus lines actually cover their operating costs while MAX operating costs are $1.18 more than fares. It also adds that bus ridership on "frequent-service bus lines" is growing as fast as rail ridership, implying that riders are sensitive to frequencies, not to whether the transit service is on rubber tires or steel wheels.
The article also mentions the claim that MAX generated billions of dollars of development projects, but points out that "Critics say growth would have fueled this development anyway." It adds that redevelopment along the latest route "has been underwhelming." Development on the airport line is now taking place with an IKEA and Costco, but these two retailers were not at all attracted by the light rail; instead, it is the proximity to Washington shoppers who won't have to pay sales taxes for what they buy in Oregon.
If the article was fairly balanced, the headline in the hardcopy edition -- but not the on-line edition -- was not. Instead, it erroneously claims, "the sleek, quiet MAX trains now carry one of every four commuters heading east or west." The truth is they carry one of every four downtown commuters heading east or west, but not commuters to other employment areas. Since downtown only has about 10 percent of the region's jobs, that just is not very many commuters.
Comments:
>>>>But once built, light rail is more cost-effective than the bus system, according to Federal Transit Administration figures. MAX cost $1.81 a ride in 2004, compared with $2.78 a ride by bus. The train collects more from fares as well, 63 cents a ride, compared with 56 cents a bus ride. <<<<<
You forgot to mention that bus service costs MORE to operate $2.78 than MAX! Furthermore, the train collects more fares at 63 cents a ride compared to 56 cents by bus!! HA!
Face the facts. Max is here forever! It's not going away and you better move along the light rail line because property values will go through the roof!
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You forgot to mention that bus service costs MORE to operate $2.78 than MAX! Furthermore, the train collects more fares at 63 cents a ride compared to 56 cents by bus!! HA!
Face the facts. Max is here forever! It's not going away and you better move along the light rail line because property values will go through the roof!
