Portland, Oregon, and United Streetcar: Americans innovating, building for Americans

I’ve mentioned before in this blog how important President Obama’s bold vision for the future of American transportation system is.  Out-innovating and out-building the rest of the world provides a clear path toward winning the future.  And it's exciting for me to see that vision already coming to life in Portland, Oregon.

By adding innovative transit opportunities, Portland has become a model livable community, a city where public transportation brings housing closer to jobs, schools, and essential services.  And perhaps nothing symbolizes Portland's livability better than the modern streetcars operating on its streets and the streetcars being built right in Portland at United Streetcar.

 

United Streetcar is the only manufacturer of modern streetcars in America. They built the first modern Buy America compliant streetcar for use in Portland, and they are currently building additional streetcars for Portland’s East Side Loop Extension and for Tucson, Arizona’s new streetcar system.

And, let me tell you, the Americans who are manufacturing those streetcars could not be more humble about the incredible work they're doing.  I saw this firsthand yesterday when I toured United Streetcar and met the workers crafting these modern cars. 

A century ago, streetcars were a common sight in cities across America.  But, by the 1960s, most communities had phased them out--to the great detriment of neighborhoods and downtowns.

Today, thanks to President Obama's vision, streetcars are coming back. They’re reviving the same neighborhoods they once helped create.  They're creating jobs, creating ripple effects that benefit other businesses, and laying the foundation for economic development.  And they're helping people get where they need to go.

Because of United Streetcar, Portland is the heart of America's streetcar renaissance.  So, when the Portland Business Journal said recently that "LaHood seems to (heart) Portland," I think they understated the case.  As I told the workers at United Streetcar, there's no "seems to" about it.

I also met last night with members of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance and the Portland chapter of the Women's Transportation Seminar, two groups who are also working hard to enhance livability in Portland through transportation innovations.

Meeting with the Portland chapter of WTS

The Department of Transportation and WTS have partnered to encourage women to complete undergraduate and graduate degrees in science, technology, engineering and math--without having to put their transportation careers on hold.  This strategic effort is helping us transform transportation by helping more women advance in transportation careers.  And the members of the Portland WTS chapter and I agree that we should continue working together toward this important goal.

So, yes, for its hard work innovating in transportation and building streetcars for Americans by Americans, this Transportation Secretary hearts Portland 100 percent.

Comments

[WS]

I'd love to bring back our street car system here in Durham, NC.

WS

[jeff knapp]

Thanks for your support of transportation alternatives. In particular, bicycle transportation is a great way to address three big issues facing America: addiction to foreign oil, poor health/obesity, and air quality. Please keep up the good work.

[Barry Klein]

Mr. La Hood,

I am a long time student of rail transit and I would like to see the scholars' reports, particularily any by transportation economists, that you may have in mind when you made these three statements:

"Portland has become a model livable community, a city where public transportation brings housing closer to jobs, schools, and essential services."

"But, by the 1960s, most communities had phased them [streetcars] out--to the great detriment of neighborhoods and downtowns."

"They’re reviving the same neighborhoods they once helped create. They're creating jobs, creating ripple effects that benefit other businesses, and laying the foundation for economic development. And they're helping people get where they need to go."

Frankly, I have never encountered any systematic evidence to support those conclusions.

Links to the articles or papers would be sufficient.

Thank you.

Barry Klein

Houston, Texas

[Djvazquez]

South Florida has Tr-Rail and MetroRail. They’re getting an extension of MetroRail to the Miami Airport. They just bought over $100 million in new locomotives and trains. They got $1 billion to start building a tunnel that is expected to cost a lot more (think Big Dig in Boston). They’re getting millions of dollars for port and train upgrades to include dredging. What are they doing right that we in Central Florida are not besides building more roads? Is it because we’re on the wrong team or are we supposed to be in it together in this nation?

[Carl in Portland, Oregon]

Made in America!
Good for the Enviroment.
Texans oppose it.

Thats all I needed to know, lets make some streetcars!