Streetcar line opens with controversy

[spuwho]

Portland started their new streetcar service, lots of issues, something Jacksonville should take note of if/when they start their own service. The good news was, it was almost too popular! Those of you who scoff, read the level of private investment that was triggered by this effort. Something Jax shouldn't sneeze at.



Per Trains Newswire:

PORTLAND, Ore. â€" The newest extension of the city of Portland's streetcar network opened to packed crowds on Saturday, Sept. 22. Portland Streetcar, Inc., opened its new 3.35-mile, double track Central Loop streetcar route to service with two days of free rides. The project cost was $148.27 million, with $75 million of that being paid for with federal funds. The line stretches from the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, through the Central Eastside Industrial District and Lloyd Center, and over the Broadway Bridge to a connection with the existing North-South line. The Central Loop line then shares the existing streetcar route on 10th and 11th avenues, turning at SW Market Street near Portland State University.

The opening day was fraught with difficulties. Heavy ridership resulted in trains operating at "crush load" levels, making boarding and de-boarding a lengthy process. One streetcar employee noted that there were "about eighty people waiting at every platform." Some trains were so heavily loaded that when accommodation for disabled passengers was required, the extending "bridge plate" at the doors was too low and could not clear the top of the platforms. At least one train had to be completely emptied to allow the plate to extend properly and load a wheel chair, and then re-load the remainder of the passengers. More delays resulted from automobiles parked hanging out over the tracks. As a result, trains were unable to meet schedules for most of the day.

The project has not been without controversy. Portland's daily newspaper, The Oregonian, ran a front page story the day before the opening titled "A Streetcar Without Desire," criticizing the new line as slow, doing little for commuters, and ill-timed given TriMet budget cuts. (TriMet contributes $3.75 million to the operation of the new line, roughly equivalent to the cost of similar bus service. The city of Portland pays for the remainder of the operating costs.)

Dignitaries at the opening ceremony on saturday made an unusual show of openly firing back at these critiques. Mayor Sam Adams called the news story "the kind of trash we have to deal with every day," and noted that the streetcar project was completed "on time and on budget." Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), who was instrumental in securing federal funding for the project, held up an issue of The Oregonian to the audience and responded to the headline that the new streetcar route "was not [built] for today or tomorrow or five years but for a generation." It should be noted that one of the sponsors of Saturday's events was the Portland Tribune, the non-daily rival of The Oregonian.

One of the key roles of the new line is the continuation of the streetcar's use as a redevelopment tool. "There are already over $1 billion worth of private construction projects in for permitting at the city along the route," said Michael Powell, owner of Portland's iconic Powell's Books and the outgoing chair of Portland Streetcar's board of directors. The existing streetcar route, from South Waterfront to NW 23rd, has been credited with stimulating over $3.5 billion in private investment, mostly in condominiums and other residential construction.

Future plans include building a connector from the existing terminus at OMSI to the eastern foot of the bridge being built for the TriMet MAX light rail line to Milwaukie. When the bridge opens and this connection is built, Central Loop line trains will finally be able to operate in their namesake "loop" fashion, by making a circuit around the central city area. Portland Streetcar hopes to have this connector in place for operation shortly after the bridge's scheduled opening in 2014.

[thelakelander]

That's pretty much the message we keep trying to sell Jax on.  These things create jobs and tend to pull in the type of market rate private development that Jax leaders haven't figured out how to attract.

[JeffreyS]

I think we are going to need to convince a GOB developer to be in the streetcar business before you see Jax government show any real interest.

[peestandingup]

The project has not been without controversy. Portland's daily newspaper, The Oregonian, ran a front page story the day before the opening titled "A Streetcar Without Desire," criticizing the new line as slow, doing little for commuters, and ill-timed given TriMet budget cuts. (TriMet contributes $3.75 million to the operation of the new line, roughly equivalent to the cost of similar bus service. The city of Portland pays for the remainder of the operating costs.)

Dignitaries at the opening ceremony on saturday made an unusual show of openly firing back at these critiques. Mayor Sam Adams called the news story "the kind of trash we have to deal with every day," and noted that the streetcar project was completed "on time and on budget.

Imagine Brown saying something like that. What, you can't?? Yeah me neither.

[buckethead]

 

"was not [built] for today or tomorrow or five years but for a generation."

Need more thinking like this in all levels of government.

[Ocklawaha]

The most telling thing about this story is that huge crowds showed up just to ride a new route on a streetcar system they already have. Streetcars and Light-Rail have been a part of these peoples lives for years, but they still come down just to ride 3 miles on a new streetcar route. Can you imagine crowds showing up to ride a new 3 mile bus route? Have you ever heard of crowds showing up to ride a new 3 mile bus route? I didn't think so.

http://www.youtube.com/v/4YMrimEtpUI?version=3&hl=en_US

http://www.youtube.com/v/nhr2CPaR-WA?version=3&hl=en_US

[avonjax]

This should be required viewing. I love the all the "older" people in Portland who see the light. In Jax these people would be spitting hayseeds and wailing, "We don't need no freakin' streetcar."

[Bill Hoff]

So who's emailing this video segment to City Council & various Mayor's office staff? : )

[peestandingup]

This should be required viewing. I love the all the "older" people in Portland who see the light. In Jax these people would be spitting hayseeds and wailing, "We don't need no freakin' streetcar."

Thats because people in backwater hick towns almost always vote against their own self interests. Not saying Jax is that, just that there's a LOT of those types here. Especially when you consider that the "city" is stretched out from here to timbuktu.

Speaking to that, you've got the good ol boy network of developers who are already burrowed in deep & want things to stay just the way they are. Which is why none of this stuff has happened here yet (and prob won't for a long time).

[Ocklawaha]

Especially when you consider that the "city" is stretched out from here to timbuktu.

Not quite, Timbuktu, Mali, is exactly 4975.004 from Jacksonville. Yeah, I did the math. Way too much time on my hands.

Hopefully we'll all be in for a surprise and the council will do the right thing and kill the moratorium.

[exnewsman]

The project has not been without controversy. Portland's daily newspaper, The Oregonian, ran a front page story the day before the opening titled "A Streetcar Without Desire," criticizing the new line as slow, doing little for commuters, and ill-timed given TriMet budget cuts. (TriMet contributes $3.75 million to the operation of the new line, roughly equivalent to the cost of similar bus service. The city of Portland pays for the remainder of the operating costs.)

Dignitaries at the opening ceremony on saturday made an unusual show of openly firing back at these critiques. Mayor Sam Adams called the news story "the kind of trash we have to deal with every day," and noted that the streetcar project was completed "on time and on budget.

Imagine Brown saying something like that. What, you can't?? Yeah me neither.

Before he was Mayor, Sam Adams used to run Portlands's transit authority. So he gets it.

[peestandingup]

The project has not been without controversy. Portland's daily newspaper, The Oregonian, ran a front page story the day before the opening titled "A Streetcar Without Desire," criticizing the new line as slow, doing little for commuters, and ill-timed given TriMet budget cuts. (TriMet contributes $3.75 million to the operation of the new line, roughly equivalent to the cost of similar bus service. The city of Portland pays for the remainder of the operating costs.)

Dignitaries at the opening ceremony on saturday made an unusual show of openly firing back at these critiques. Mayor Sam Adams called the news story "the kind of trash we have to deal with every day," and noted that the streetcar project was completed "on time and on budget.

Imagine Brown saying something like that. What, you can't?? Yeah me neither.

Before he was Mayor, Sam Adams used to run Portlands's transit authority. So he gets it.

Thank you, I didn't realize that. Makes a lot more sense that he was so brazen with his statement now. Of course there's also plenty of other mayors across the US who get it as well. They simply know good design & that this stuff is the future that will attract the right kind of people/industry to your town. Not to mention be highly beneficial to the community as a whole & significantly improve quality of life for everyone.

Brown doesn't strike me as getting it though. He might, who the hell really knows. But where has he been on these issues? He's the spokesperson for the city & he never says anything. Where does he stand on the mobility fee? The outer loop beltway?? Better transit & bike options in general??

Seems like he's just maintaining & not trying to ruffle any feathers.

[simms3]

Speaking to that, you've got the good ol boy network of developers who are already burrowed in deep & want things to stay just the way they are. Which is why none of this stuff has happened here yet (and prob won't for a long time).

There are like 2 small-time developers based in Jax and no development going on.  That's what's hilarious (all that multifamily on the SS, proposals in Brooklyn, SJTC, River City Marketplace, etc are all outside development teams coming in to rape and pillage what little market Jax has because there is nobody in town to take advantage of it and no direction from the nonexistent local developers/crappy city government to steer things in a different direction).  I can tell you all the developers up here in Atlanta were *in tears* when TSPLOST did not pass (and the suburban Republican types were against it partly *because* it was indirect money to line city of Atlanta developers' pockets (i.e. economic development tax disguised as a congestion relief bill)).