Comments on: Portland Eastside Streetcar Extension to Get Federal Funds http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/04/30/portland-eastside-streetcar-extension-to-get-federal-funds/ Thu, 09 Sep 2010 07:02:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Woody http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/04/30/portland-eastside-streetcar-extension-to-get-federal-funds/#comment-1126 Woody Sun, 03 May 2009 17:31:09 +0000 http://thetransportpolitic.com/?p=2113#comment-1126 Good call, Yonah. And this is a biggie. Portland is the poster city nowadays, the demonstration case for public transit. Whenever a growing Sunbelt city is feeling the need for transit,the local Economic Development office or the Chamber of Commerce or somebody organizes a pilgrimage to Portland to see how it works. There the big shots get an earful about green cities, new urbanism, transit oriented development, etc. Now streetcars will be part of the lesson plan for sure. The visitors will be shown that Portland is more than doubling its streetcar routes, and that the feds are paying almost 60% of the cost. Well, they could get a lot more federal money to bulldoze some of their city for more highways. But at least they will see a working and very popular alternative. Good call, Yonah. And this is a biggie.

Portland is the poster city nowadays, the demonstration case for public transit. Whenever a growing Sunbelt city is feeling the need for transit,the local Economic Development office or the Chamber of Commerce or somebody organizes a pilgrimage to Portland to see how it works. There the big shots get an earful about green cities, new urbanism, transit oriented development, etc. Now streetcars will be part of the lesson plan for sure.

The visitors will be shown that Portland is more than doubling its streetcar routes, and that the feds are paying almost 60% of the cost. Well, they could get a lot more federal money to bulldoze some of their city for more highways. But at least they will see a working and very popular alternative.

]]> By: Ron http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/04/30/portland-eastside-streetcar-extension-to-get-federal-funds/#comment-1125 Ron Fri, 01 May 2009 06:43:42 +0000 http://thetransportpolitic.com/?p=2113#comment-1125 Nice! As I type, I look out on one of the over autoed streets that will benefit from this extension and couldn't be happier. Here is to street cars up Belmont, down Fremont, across Mississippi Ave., and on and on... Nice! As I type, I look out on one of the over autoed streets that will benefit from this extension and couldn’t be happier. Here is to street cars up Belmont, down Fremont, across Mississippi Ave., and on and on…

]]> By: Yonah Freemark http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/04/30/portland-eastside-streetcar-extension-to-get-federal-funds/#comment-1123 Yonah Freemark Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:43:55 +0000 http://thetransportpolitic.com/?p=2113#comment-1123 Chris - The FTA <a href="http://www.fta.dot.gov/regional_offices_9581.html" rel="nofollow">presser</a> makes it pretty clear to me that this funding is solid, but call me on it if you think I'm wrong. Chris -
The FTA presser makes it pretty clear to me that this funding is solid, but call me on it if you think I’m wrong.

]]> By: Chris http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/04/30/portland-eastside-streetcar-extension-to-get-federal-funds/#comment-1124 Chris Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:20:37 +0000 http://thetransportpolitic.com/?p=2113#comment-1124 Yonah, This is great news, but I read the article to mean that a Small Starts application is PENDING, not that FTA has approved it. Am I reading it wrong? Yonah,

This is great news, but I read the article to mean that a Small Starts application is PENDING, not that FTA has approved it. Am I reading it wrong?

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