Nice articles about Portland, Oregon transit and livability

Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin boarding the Tri-Met streetcar at the Portland airport. Photo by Maria Saporta, Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Portland is the poster child for livability and by extending livability by enhancing surface transit. The Streetcars initiative, "DC Transit Future" of the DC Department of Transportation can't be said to be a response to Portland because after all, DC has a great streetcar history, but it is informed by the Portland experience.

Streetcar, Union Station, circa 1959-1961. Photo from Bill's Railroad Empire.

In May, a group of 100 civic, business, and government leaders organized by the Atlanta Regional Commission, visited Portland. Maria Saporta, a business columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, went along and documented the trip in this, "Trip by Atlanta leaders studies growth issues in West Oregon: trip puts focus on transit" and related articles. (Registration will be required to access the article.)

(Neon sign at Streetcar Lofts, Portland, Oregon.) Maybe we need more trips to livable places, and fewer trips to baseball stadia.