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 Light Rail Death Rate per 100 million passenger-miles

1987-2000

2001-2006

Totals (1987-2006)

year

passenger-miles

deaths

1986

1

1987

35,046,300

1988

38,214,000

1989

35,934,000

1990

40,118,400

1

1991

43,598,400

2

1992

45,637,680

2

1993

45,215,760

1994

44,307,000

1995

46,538,760

1996

48,704,880

1997

52,971,480

1998

56,647,320

1

1999

100,859,280

4

2000

119,585,640

Total

753,378,900

11

Death Rate: 11 / 7.53 = 1.46

Motor Vehicle = 0.58

MAX death rate is 252%

above motor vehicles

year

passenger-miles

deaths

2001

125,877,480

2

2002

144,919,080

2

2003

142,094,976

1

2004

158,275,716

1

2005

172,368,000

1

2006

169,552,280

1

Total

913,087,532

8

Death Rate: 8/ 9.13= 0.88

Motor Vehicle = 0.38

MAX death rate is 232%

above motor vehicles

year

passenger-miles

deaths

1987-2000

753,378,900

11

2001-2006

913,087,532

Total

1,666,466,432

19

Death Rate: 19/ 16.66= 1.14

Motor Vehicle = 0.46

MAX death rate is 248%

above motor vehicles

In the 23 years since the first MAX line opened, there have been only two fatalities that police determined to be suicides. There have also been just "a handful" of attempts, Witt said.

Oregonian, March 13, 2009   http://blog.oregonlive.com/commuting/2009/03/toying_with_death_and_riding_a.html

National Transportation Death Rates

Below is from:

http://www.publicpurpose.com/uts-9095.htm

Video explains these numbers (and a lot else about light rail)

Web site about one victim of MAX