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Podcast: Cascade CounterPoint
Episode: QP: Portland to Expand Streetcar, Riders Not Included
Description: In mid-November, the Portland City Council approved a 1.3-mile extension of the Portland Streetcar in Northwest Portland to service anticipated housing development near the Montgomery Park building.
Council members assumed that the streetcar is a critical mobility option for Portland residents, but the facts suggest otherwise. According to TriMet, monthly ridership in 2024 has been 39% lower than ridership during 2018, despite a rise in population during that period.
The Streetcar is simply irrelevant to most residents. It’s a low-speed, low-capacity, high-cost method of travel that doesn’t go many places. Even for those who love trains, the...