Replies

Vancouver, Washington is going to get light rail whether we want it or not, that's Metro's position. Funny! Their own light rail system on that side of the river is now ackowledged as a huge vector for crime. Max Stations themselves are among the most dangerous locations in the city. Yesterday we saw a gang assault on the Interstate max line. Areas of the suburbs that never had crime now have bangers training in to steal from areas surrounding the MAX.

Then, there is the cost. The MAX has lost money every minute of operation. It is used by some amazingly small minority of people in Portland, way under 10%.

If all the money spent on absurd elite pleasing public transportation had been invested in the roads which move 95% of the people and 100A% of the goods in our city we'd already have another bridge.

Also, Lars suggested a while ago that I-5 and I-205 simply be relabeled and through traffic directed onto the faster, emptier and better engineered new bypass road. The total distance from where they split, Sourth of McMinnville, to where they meet again, north of Vancovuer, is almost the same. That bridge already has 3 lanes.

But common sense has no place when you are crusading liberal.

Have you read “The Best-Laid Plans: How Government Planning Harms Your Quality of Life, Your Pocketbook, and Your Future” by Randal O’Toole?

This startling book deals with the disastrous results of “Government Planning”, with a lot of examples from the authors home region of the “left coast”. It’s a great read!

This is an interstate highway.

What does Metro have to do with it?

Is it legal to charge tolls on a FEDERAL interstate highway?

Wouldn't toll booths create another bottleneck and eat up real estate?

What about the “greenhouse gas” and fuel burned by cars ripping out of the toll booths?

Every one knows that the max will add 20% to property values wherever it goes. They told me so.

I actually think the south branch that they are building will reduce crime along 82 near clackamas because it will provide transportation for all the meth heads to go rob some of the more affluent areas.

Crusading Liberals have to eat too! Since they disdain something as mundane as working for a living loot rail is the way to go.

The key issue in this new 12 lane bridge is the wood Toll. Take the Toll word away and suddenly the billion dollar boondoggle will become a 4 lane normal highway bridge.