Weighing How We Move: Cincinnatians in Portland
by Dyah Kartikawening, iRhine

A visit of a group of Cincinnatians to Portland, Oregon provides a thriving example of how light rail transit system can promote urban revitalization and a healthy region. The Alliance for Regional Transit consists of individuals who are interested in supporting the development of public transportation in this region. For several years around 225 people have gone to Portland in groups to experience the benefit of public transportations and light rail system. Last May, 27 people participated, mostly from Cincinnati, but also from Austin, New Orleans and Columbus.

TriMet, Portland's transit agency, is one of the best public transit system named by the American Public Transit Association. Everyday, TriMet bus or MAX (Metropolitan Area Express, Portland's light rail) transport about 300,000 people to go to work, to run an errands or visit friends and family, without the hassles of traffic and parking. Most light rail riders in Portland are choice riders, who chose to ride light rail although they have cars or chose not to own cars. Todd Littman at the Victoria Transport Policy Institute found that cities with large, well-established rail systems have higher per capita transit ridership, lower average per capita vehicle ownership and annual mileage, less traffic congestion, lower traffic death rates and lower consumer expenditures on transportation.

The group focused on the effect of Portland's light rail system on the greater community. They spent time with three speakers who are involved in the neighborhood development and listened to Portland's story of transit-oriented development over the last twenty years. Among the speakers were as John Carroll, a board member of the Portland Streetcar, David Knowles, the former of City Planning director of Portland and Charlie Hales, vice president and national director of transit planning for HDR Engineering and former Portland City Council.

"The light rail system has changed Portland." said John Schneider, a founding member of DCI and its first transportation committee chairman . "New small businesses, restaurants and shops are thriving along light rail transit stops. Light rail also promotes pedestrian use that increase 'eyes-on-the-street' and helping to increase safety."

"Cincinnati has similar economic challenges as Portland did. Portland's transit system proves the benefits as well as the feasibility of light rail in Cincinnati. "said Clinton Stahler, a professional pilot who has been living in Cincinnati on and off for most of his life with intermittent periods in West Palm Beach, Florida, Columbus and abroad. Light rail encouraged downtown revitalization by connecting one community to the other, helped people to move easier to reach jobs, shopping centers, and schools. Many things were possible to achieve by using light rail to facilitate the development. Stahler strongly recommends this experience to anyone who is interested in community improvement of any kind whether they are supportive of a possible rail project in Cincinnati or not.

Three years ago in Cincinnati, SORTA proposed MetroMoves plan that would connect light rail system with buses services failed on the ballot. The plan would increase the Metro bus service that connect to 26 transit hubs occupied by businesses tailored to each community needs. John Schneider mentioned that the plan for Cincinnati should follow doable steps that could introduce light rail to citizens. Cincinnatians who have traveled to Europe, or other cities in the country such as San Francisco, New York City, know how convenient public transportation is.


"It could be a light rail from Riverfront to Clifton ," said Cincinnati Councilmember James Tarbell, who joined the group to Portland in May. He noted to the highlight of development around uptown that trying to connect riverfront and Clifton would be a good start to develop light rail system.

The rise of fuel cost, parking problems and highway congestions are solid reasons to consider alternative methods of transportation. Many other cities with a smaller region compared with Cincinnati have had light rail for many years such as Salt Lake City UT, Buffalo NY and Sacramento CA; while Charlotte NC is currently building a light rail line. Developing our region means connecting our neighborhoods from downtown to the suburbs. John Schneider mentioned that the success of light rail system did not lay on the city size nor residential density, but travel density. In Cincinnati, connecting Northern Kentucky and downtown Cincinnati would be a good start to develop the line.

Our region is growing and spreading. Currently there are many initiatives directed to solve highway congestions such as I-71 and I-71 improvements. Many of these decisions will affects our neighborhoods, either growing or continue shrinking. The Ohio Department of Transportation has been working on a plan to improve the I-75 corridor. One of the alternatives was to add one more lane on the I-75 to reduce congestions. "I don't think adding a lane on an already crowded highway is a good option," said Councilmember James Tarbell who also visited Portland last May.

The Brookings Institution studied that from 1993 to 1996, Cincinnati lost 0.6 percent or 1,597 of its jobs. Meanwhile the surrounding suburbs'job base grew by 12,4 percent or 54,221 jobs. Connecting Over-the-Rhine and other inner city neighborhoods with the suburbs with reliable and accessible public transportation will help people to access jobs. In their co-authored book, Regional City, Peter Calthorpe and Wiliam Fulton note that a "Regional City" is a collaboration between governments in city centers, outer suburbs and inner or older suburbs that shares common-fate as a region, to work together in enhancing regional competitiveness. Could improving our public transportation be a good start?

Unlike Cincinnati, Portland citizens didn't vote on their first light rail line on the ballot. Portland's MAX (Metropolitan Area Express) Blue Line was its first rail line. The primary east-west light rail line, serving as the spine of the current system, was created with the funding from federal government that was originally planned for another highway lane.


Portland's introduction of light rail to its citizens has proven successful. The next thing they know, light rail ridership has risen, and by the time they were ready to develop more rail route, the citizens already valued the effectiveness and benefits of light rail. Currently Portland is developing the Portland Mall Revitalization Project that will bring light rail downtown and extend the transit to connect with Milwaukie, OR.

For Over-the-Rhine, a light rail system will only enhance the character, giving people more opportunities to walk the neighborhood, stop at surprising places they may have never seen before, shops at a variety of local shops and support small local businesses, while bringing back the character of the neighborhood that was first built for pedestrian use. Over-the-Rhine used to have street cars in 1940s; the remaining line can be found on Elm Street in front of Music Hall. John Schneider mentioned how easy it is if we develop downtown without including cars in it. In Over-the-Rhine and downtown, cars would stay within parking lots 95% of the time or more.

The Alliance for Regional Transit will visit Portland again on October 21, 2005. If you're interested in going, please contact John Schneider at johnschneider@protransit.com.

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