
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:
- Pedestrian-friendly Waterfront Way weekends are here for the summerWaterfront Way closes to vehicles every weekend from Memorial Day through Labor Day, 4 p.m. Fridays to 5 a.m. Mondays.
- Opinion: I-5 Bridge replacement project – Tolls will cause massive traffic diversion to I-205Stantec’s investment-grade study projects I-5 traffic dropping from 127,000 to 77,000 vehicles per day once tolls begin.
- Letter: I-5 Bridge – Eliminate light rail, include two auxiliary lanes each way insteadIBR’s own data shows two auxiliary lanes outperform the recommended one-lane design on every congestion measure.
- Washingtonians could see toll rates increase to $18 along SR 167, I-405 next yearState officials may raise SR 167 and I-405 toll rates to $18 after a $10 million revenue shortfall was identified.
- Opinion: Tone deaf Tina Kotek ignores Oregon voters’ Tuesday messageOregon’s Measure 120 failed 83–17 as Kotek blamed Trump’s Iran policy for the transportation tax defeat.






