Top Ten Light Rail Myths
Top Ten Light Rail Myths:
What We’ve Learned From 12 Years of MAX in Portland
By John A. Charles
1. Light Rail will reduce traffic congestion.
Eastside MAX went on-line in 1986. Yet between 1986 and 1992 Portland area traffic congestion grew faster than other Western cities, including Seattle, which has no light rail. Between 1986 and 1995, traffic counts on the Banfield freeway increased from 117,928 to 162,254 (measured near Lloyd Center), despite the adjacent light rail line and free parking for MAX riders at the Gateway Transit Center.
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed South/North light-rail extension predicts that traffic congestion on I-5 will actually worsen with light rail. The most likely explanation for this prediction is that the alignment will destroy two lanes of road capacity on Interstate Avenue, shifting traffic to the already congested I-5.
2. Light Rail will improve air quality.
The DEIS predicts that N/S light rail would reduce regional nitrogen oxide emissions by about one-tenth of one percent (1/1,000th). We will see greater improvement than that in the near future just from older cars being retired from the fleet.
Moreover, there is no reason to spend $1.6 billion on any single air pollution strategy, because Portland does not have an air pollution problem. Last year, EPA re-designated the Portland region as an ”attainment“ region under the Clean Air Act — meaning that every Oregon city now complies with federal standards.
3. Building light rail is cheaper than building highways.
At more than $100 million per mile, the south/north light rail will cost more than any highway ever built in Oregon....Click here for more viewing pleasure.
Bad things happen to good people when dem's are in charge!