Portland is a PR machine for light rail & streetcar

Here are Some Facts About Portland Oregon          

“It must always be remembered how cost-effectiveness works in the public sector: the cost IS the benefit.” - author unknown

Portland’s MAX is slower than a bus. A lot slower!

Portland’s MAX is Slow compared to a Bus

Bus is 79% faster than MAX’s Yellow line from Vancouver to downtown:

BUS: 19 min          MAX: 34 min

Bus is 86% faster than MAX’s blue line from Gateway to downtown:

BUS  14 min           MAX:  26 min

These are comparisons of transit service on longer distance commutes between an express bus with few stops and light rail which must stop at every station along a route. The reason that this are important is:

1. Trimet discontinued the express bus on the freeway parallel to the MAX light rail line into downtown Portland. Many people now claim that MAX is faster than the discontinued bus. In fact there is still an express bus running along the same route and it is much faster than MAX. Restoring express bus service from Gateway to downtown would improve transit rider’s travel time, but hurt light rail’s ridership, so it is not provided.

2. Currently C-Tran runs express buses to downtown Portland from Vancouver. These parallel the Yellow line. This line is under consideration for expansion into Vancouver, essentially duplicating the route of the current express buses. It is important to know how this will affect travel times.

Video:

Chief Financial Officer of a Transit System talks about

his experience with light rail.