Since Portland halted freeway expansion in 1982, commuter congestion time has tripled and fuel waste has sextupled to 34.7 million gallons annually. The city has spent billions on light rail lines, streetcar lines, and a commuter rail line, but the number of transit trips taken by the average resident has fallen from 42 in 1982 to 36 in 2024.
Transportation Disasters
Portland is turning traffic lanes on major streets into exclusive bus lanes, which will make auto travel more difficult. The city has also installed bike lanes on many streets, sometimes by reducing the number of automobile lanes. However, this has not increased bike ridership, and the annual number of bicycle fatalities in the city has almost tripled since the early 2010s.
Original reporting: Clark County Today (Vancouver WA) — read the source article.
