
Lars Larson considers the facts of life for transit systems in the Pacific Northwest
Lars Larson
The Northwest Nonsense
Consider the facts of life for transit systems in Portland (and Seattle).
Number one, transit is hazardous to your health, from the drug contaminated air to the assaults on passengers, you’re putting yourself in a dangerous place.

Number two, transit systems absolutely depend on cash from Washington D.C. for their very existence.
So, when you hear about the random and horrific stabbing murder of Iryna Zarutska almost 3-thousand miles away, don’t imagine it WON’T change things here.
American Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sent the warning this week … the failure of Charlotte to protect passengers means he plans to cut off federal funding.
“I guarantee that if I find what I think I’m going to find, they are not going to have your federal tax dollars going to their public (transit). Zero. None. Nada.”
Secretary Duffy calls violence on public transit an “epidemic.”
Portland and Seattle want billions from the government to pay for ridiculous choo choos like Max and Link light rail that never live up to passenger traffic promises.
That includes the almost unbelievable billion dollars a mile for an interstate bridge light rail.
Now, we have a president who’s sick and tired to liberal tolerance for the criminal class and that federal money spigot just got turned off tight because of the feckless city management of transit.
Also read:
- Opinion: Portland’s War on Cars Part 4 – A smarter automobile strategy to end gridlockO’Toole argues fuel wasted in Portland-area congestion has sextupled since 1982, generating 250,000 tons of extra greenhouse gases annually.
- Opinion: Transit ridership trends are dismal but regional plans are obliviousPuget Sound transit passenger-miles fell 31% from 2015 to 2024 despite a half-million-resident population increase.
- Interstate Bridge Replacement Program seeks qualified firms for bridge replacement contractThe CRBR project is backed by $5.7 billion from state funds, federal grants, and future tolling.
- Opinion: Bankrupt – A $3.5 billion Rose Quarter Freeway widening projectJoe Cortright argues ODOT’s Rose Quarter project has grown from a $450M approval to a $3.5B estimate, with a $2B funding gap.
- Opinion: Portland’s War on Cars 3 – Ending the war on automobilesO’Toole argues Portland should add toll lanes, fix safety hazards, and redesign TriMet routes to end its anti-auto policies.






