Portland - Milwaukie Light Rail (PMLR) | Completed

[MarkDaMan]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

Unless the post crosses a clear line of hate speech, I don't think it's a great idea to remove the posts of those you disagree with.

Posts get moderated on SSP fairly often and for a variety of reasons. Posting factually incorrect information, trolling, and viewpoints meant to be argumentative are some of those reasons. Also taken into account is whether or not the person making a questionable post is an active member of the community, in this case SSP: Portland, or if they show up solely to post something negative and then troll or duck out. I've given the above poster the right to back up his post, expose his 'famous transit advocates' he's been in conversation with and participate in discussion.

[davehogan]

Originally Posted by Nexis4Jersey

Whats the purpose of this Rail line? I looked at the route and it seems to go nowhere....and after speaking with some famous transit advocates out there it seems this line is a boondoggle. There are underused or limited bus routes that service this corridor better then this proposed line... Between this and the Yellow line to Vancouver it seems Tri-Met has gone power crazy...and ignores cheaper Alts.

The 31, 32, and 33 combined are some of the better used routes, and it serves several dense neighborhoods. There also was ROW available for much of the route, as well as significant development opportunities near the Clinton, Rhine, Holgate, Tacoma and Milwaukie Main St stations, plus the SoWa area will end up with LRT access as well.

The Tacoma and Oak Grove stations will also feature large park and rides in an attempt to offer an alternative to taking Hwy 99 or the Sellwood Bridge to get downtown, both of which are already very backed up every morning to get into the city.

So, why do you think TriMet went power crazy? The neighborhoods it runs through wanted this. Bus solutions were looked at but the communities along it and the long term investment values showed that an LRT extension was the best option, especially because most of the ROW that was needed was already available. Even better, it also will help the 9, 17 and 19 buses get across the river much more efficiently.

[Shilo Rune 96]

Originally Posted by Nexis4Jersey

Whats the purpose of this Rail line? I looked at the route and it seems to go nowhere....and after speaking with some famous transit advocates out there it seems this line is a boondoggle. There are underused or limited bus routes that service this corridor better then this proposed line... Between this and the Yellow line to Vancouver it seems Tri-Met has gone power crazy...and ignores cheaper Alts.

I also believe this line is sorta like the foundation to other lines and development.

But, I think it's valuable for you to know, most of the criticism came from residents of Clackamas County. Because Clackamas County is so large, a lot of county residents will never benefit from the line, and therefor didn't want to fork the bill. Republican leaders eventually campaigned against the line, and I'd say even created false facts like your transit advocates comment. I swear they were paying commenters on OregonLive, but that's just me. Well it grew and was almost successful?


PS. See also the Sellwood bridge project regarding poor Clackamas county.

[Nexis4Jersey]

Originally Posted by bvpcvm

My guess is he's referring to those famous transit advocates, Wendell Cox and Randall O'Toole.

No , Lane Jansen , Fred (portlands Transport), and punkrawker who is now in Seattle. But All 3 along with Opal seem to have some valid points about the LRT system and Tri-Mets thirst for power. I take offense to the fact that your implying that am anti-Transit , have you not seen my work on this site or others. Those 3 people either have worked for Trimet or work/advocate elsewhere in the Transportation industry...

[MarkDaMan]

Originally Posted by Nexis4Jersey

No , Lane Jansen , Fred (portlands Transport), and punkrawker who is now in Seattle.

Since when did bloggers become 'famous transit advocates'

And Lane Jensen! Are you serious? The guy that got arrested for harassing TriMet employees and is now banned from making any contact with the agency? That Lane Jensen?

[Nexis4Jersey]

Originally Posted by MarkDaMan

Since when did bloggers become 'famous transit advocates'

And Lane Jensen! Are you serious? The guy that got arrested for harassing TriMet employees and is now banned from making any contact with the agency? That Lane Jensen?

Yes that Lane Jansen , he does attend meetings and voice his concern and opinions all of which seem valid. Questioning the flaws in trimet's budgeting and illegal or questionable rule changes is perfectly fine. I think lately hes been pushing it a little to far , but Trimet seems to be dodging questions and lying along with rule changes. Punkrawker works as a bus driver for King County Metro , not really a blogger...he used to do some Transportation work / advocating before he moved to Seattle a few years ago. Fred (Portlands Transport) , retired from Trimet a few years ago , hes pro-Transit ,Pro-Union , the only thing you'll see him bash is Trimet , usually on their corruption and lying....but he does not bash transit...none of these guys do.

[dubu]

we needed two famous bridges. hope the new line isnt a fail

[MarkDaMan]

Originally Posted by Nexis4Jersey

Trimet seems to be dodging questions and lying along with rule changes.

Well we certainly have different standards about what qualifies someone as 'famous' although I guess that is subjective. However I don't think being a long time bus driver (going by the name of punkrawker, no less) qualifies them as a transit expert.

What, in your opinion, are the questions TriMet is dodging and lying about and what rules are changing?

[RED_PDXer]

Originally Posted by Nexis4Jersey

Yes that Lane Jansen , he does attend meetings and voice his concern and opinions all of which seem valid. Questioning the flaws in trimet's budgeting and illegal or questionable rule changes is perfectly fine. I think lately hes been pushing it a little to far , but Trimet seems to be dodging questions and lying along with rule changes. Punkrawker works as a bus driver for King County Metro , not really a blogger...he used to do some Transportation work / advocating before he moved to Seattle a few years ago. Fred (Portlands Transport) , retired from Trimet a few years ago , hes pro-Transit ,Pro-Union , the only thing you'll see him bash is Trimet , usually on their corruption and lying....but he does not bash transit...none of these guys do.

"Lame Jansen" is a whack job. Who walks around filming every interaction with each transit employee they come across. He's self-aggrandizing and likely autistic based on the fervor with which he wants to "expose" whatever ills of TriMet he think he can play up.

What exactly is TriMet dodging and lying about??

The facts are that TriMet and the Union are in a bitter dispute over entitlements. Basically the older generation is taking advantage of all the benefits they arranged for themselves and there's fewer working-age people to pay for 30-40 years of pension and medical benefits for every union retiree. Sound familiar? - this is not much different than the national fiscal issues. The union obviously is doing everything they can to keep everything as it is, which includes numerous appeals of all the legal decisions that didn't go in their favor and ads in the Willamette Week and other news outlets to spread lies about the situation. They won't accept any changes to their "Cadillac" health plan that covers retirees for life after only 10 years of service with zero deductibles or co-pays. And of course, they want to protect the union rules that give unions their bad reputation of protecting the slackers - though I'm not sure there are any changes being proposed there.

I'd suggest firing all union employees and make a whole lot of other Portlanders happy with some high paying jobs that require little experience and paid on-the-job training.

[tworivers]

Lane Jensen, "expert":

http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-21462-a_visit_from_the_trimet_squad.html

[dubu]

he actually looks like a expert with the glasses and everything. that kinda sucks what happend

[RED_PDXer]

Originally Posted by dabom

he actually looks like a expert with the glasses and everything. that kinda sucks what happend

well, not really. he deserves it. If he's going to be obsessive creepy, then he deserves what he got..

I got my own pet peeves, but I don't go to that extreme.. Roberta is a public relations employee. She doesn't make decisions or decide what becomes part of press releases. Lane/Lame is projecting all of his craziness onto her. That's not cool. He needs therapy. sooner rather than later...

[Nexis4Jersey]

Originally Posted by RED_PDXer

well, not really. he deserves it. If he's going to be obsessive creepy, then he deserves what he got..

I got my own pet peeves, but I don't go to that extreme.. Roberta is a public relations employee. She doesn't make decisions or decide what becomes part of press releases. Lane/Lame is projecting all of his craziness onto her. That's not cool. He needs therapy. sooner rather than later...

Say what you want about him , but this whole case is rather disturbing and highlights Trimet overstepping its boundaries. I don't think a public agency can ban someone from a meeting , all he did was auto-text one of the board members....and all she had to do was block him or answer his question. Which was about the recent crime spike on the system... Her Number is listed in a public document so its not like he went out of his way to look it up... The confiscating of his phone and laptop by the Transit police presumably without a warrant is disturbing...I don't think they can even get warrants.. You may not like Lane and i'll admit hes an asshole sometimes , but this case will set a precedent for Bloggers and other lower level journalists. Its one of the reasons why numerous blogs and some people in the Media out there have started taking note of the case. A lot of bloggers will push and sometimes push hard for questions from Public agencies and repeatedly...does this mean they'll be arrested aswell? Its happened before a few times and its usually thrown out... Trimet doesn't consider Bloggers Journalists which is abit disturbing... , a public agency should not decide who is and who isn't a Journalist.

[bvpcvm]

Originally Posted by Nexis4Jersey

I don't think a public agency can ban someone from a meeting , all he did was auto-text one of the board members....and all she had to do was block him or answer his question.

I don't agree; public agencies have business to conclude and if a member of the public is disruptive or refuses to stick to the meeting agenda, I think it's perfectly within their right to eject him.

But, regardless, he hardly sounds anything remotely like an "expert". He sounds instead like an immature, misguided anti-social idiot on a vindictive crusade.

[RED_PDXer]

Originally Posted by Nexis4Jersey

Say what you want about him , but this whole case is rather disturbing and highlights Trimet overstepping its boundaries. I don't think a public agency can ban someone from a meeting , all he did was auto-text one of the board members....and all she had to do was block him or answer his question. Which was about the recent crime spike on the system... Her Number is listed in a public document so its not like he went out of his way to look it up... The confiscating of his phone and laptop by the Transit police presumably without a warrant is disturbing...I don't think they can even get warrants.. You may not like Lane and i'll admit hes an asshole sometimes , but this case will set a precedent for Bloggers and other lower level journalists. Its one of the reasons why numerous blogs and some people in the Media out there have started taking note of the case. A lot of bloggers will push and sometimes push hard for questions from Public agencies and repeatedly...does this mean they'll be arrested aswell? Its happened before a few times and its usually thrown out... Trimet doesn't consider Bloggers Journalists which is abit disturbing... , a public agency should not decide who is and who isn't a Journalist.

I disagree. Lane is completely unprofessional. If he wanted to be a professional blogger and to be taken seriously, he needs to act professionally. If he wasnt' such a vindictive asshole, he'd probably be much more successful.

As for the questions he was asking, I would ignore this guy too.. I wouldn't feel like I need to answer questions like "why doesn't Trimet care about its riders" or "why does TriMet continue to let crime happen".. those are bogus.

All transit cops are sworn police officers from various jurisdictions. They are required to enforce state and local laws just as much as TriMet's transit codes. Lane committed a crime and was booked for it. This isn't TriMet overstepping it's boundary, it's a cop doing his job. I don't know enough about the laws or the particulars of the situation to say if he was rightfully booked, but a judge will decide and the judge isn't on the TriMet payroll. If this is all unfounded then I'm sure Lane will love to sue TriMet for damages and keep his pathetic blog full of words as that plays out.

[65MAX]

Originally Posted by Nexis4Jersey

Whats the purpose of this Rail line? I looked at the route and it seems to go nowhere....and after speaking with some famous transit advocates out there it seems this line is a boondoggle. There are underused or limited bus routes that service this corridor better then this proposed line... Between this and the Yellow line to Vancouver it seems Tri-Met has gone power crazy...and ignores cheaper Alts.

YOU looked at the line and determined it goes nowhere? Really? I'm sure the 100's of thousands of people living in Clackamas County don't agree with you that they live "nowhere". And Vancouver is "nowhere" as well?

Also, you're confusing Transit "Advocate" with Transit "Antagonist"

[Nexis4Jersey]

Originally Posted by 65MAX

YOU looked at the line and determined it goes nowhere? Really? I'm sure the 100's of thousands of people living in Clackamas County don't agree with you that they live "nowhere". And Vancouver is "nowhere" as well?

Also, you're confusing Transit "Advocate" with Transit "Antagonist"

My mistake someone gave me a fantasy map and didn't tell it wasn't the real alignment... So after looking at the real map , I don't really see a problem with this line. As for the Vancouver line , my problem is more with the whole CRC project.... I think a better solution that would be easier and cheaper to do would be to run a commuter rail service from Vancouver to Oregon City or Canby , I would have a connecting Streetcar or Light Rail connect station passengers will Downtown Vancouver. I should have rephrased that Yellow line comment earlier sorry about that and I apologize to this forum for criticizing something that I should have researched more..looked at more.

[bvpcvm]

hahaha ok.

Ten or fifteen years ago there was some sort of reconstruction along I-5 and they ran temporary commuter trains from Vancouver to PDX Union Station. However, UP is, last I heard, still adamantly opposed to allowing more passenger trains along its tracks, especially as the sharp curves on either end of the Steel Bridge really slow things down. Oh and there's another bottleneck between OC and Canby where it's single track and there's no room for more without building out over the river.

[urbanlife]

Originally Posted by Nexis4Jersey

My mistake someone gave me a fantasy map and didn't tell it wasn't the real alignment... So after looking at the real map , I don't really see a problem with this line. As for the Vancouver line , my problem is more with the whole CRC project.... I think a better solution that would be easier and cheaper to do would be to run a commuter rail service from Vancouver to Oregon City or Canby , I would have a connecting Streetcar or Light Rail connect station passengers will Downtown Vancouver. I should have rephrased that Yellow line comment earlier sorry about that and I apologize to this forum for criticizing something that I should have researched more..looked at more.

Commuter rail service, like what you see in the Northeast, isn't going to happen in the Portland metro unless they build a new commuter rail system. Which could happen, but it would make more sense just attaching light rail to a new CRC bridge and having it do a few stops in Vancouver.

Though the likelihood of Vancouver ever getting light rail is about as likely as MTA running a subway like to Jersey.

The CRC bridge is actually an important bridge in need of replacing due to the amount of traffic use as well as needing to replace the drawbridge with a taller bridge that doesn't need to disrupt traffic.

Though the CRC project is something that requires two states and two cities to work together and that is basically like herding cats.

[tworivers]

If you want to see a real boondoggle, look no further than the "Columbia River Crossing" freeway expansion project, loved by corrupt politicians, ODOT bosses, and unions everywhere .