A Portland transit planner from the days when buses were the primary means of getting around says the system is headed in the wrong direction and service is declining.
Jim Howell worked for TriMet in the 1970s, and ran a private bus company in the 1980s. He believes that Portland's significant investment in light rail may have sapped money away from the convenience of bus transit.
"...for the bus rider seeking a quick and convenient ride, this rosy picture is not all it seems. 'The problem is Portland never added to the grid,' said Howell, adding that large swaths of the city are bereft of cross-town service. He cites two places in 'dire need': the stretch between Clackamas Town Center and Washington Square and along Columbia Boulevard, 'where the jobs are.'
Thanks to Ben Serviss
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