[PRCo] Re: Portland

[Phillip Clark Campbell]

> ----- Original Message ----

> From: Joshua Dunfield <joshua.dunfield at gmail.com>
> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 12:58:05 PM
> Subject: [PRCo] Re: Fwd: Portland
> 
> > 2009/4/14 John Swindler :
> > Were does this 133,000 figure come from???  The actual number is
> > still quite respectable at just over 100,000 per weekday.  By comparison,
> > PAT's around 25,000 per weekday.
> 
> I think someone misread "weekend" as "weekday":
> 
> "MAX
> * Weekly MAX trips declined 2 percent to 653,900 trips
> * Weekday MAX trips declined down 1.4 percent to 104,100 trips
> * Weekend trips declined 4.4 percent to 133,400 trips"
> 
> 104,100 x 5  +  133,400 = 653,900.
> 
> I'm not sure that using average daily numbers for weekdays and the
> entire weekend for the weekend is especially clear.
> 
> Best,
> -j.


Mr.Swindler and Mr.Dunfield;

I am sure you remember the old saying about facts and figures being able to tell 'any'
story;  indeed, the same figures can tell two opposite stories depending upon the 'spin'
behind them.

It would seem difficult to compare Portland and Pgh wouldn't it;  depending upon
how one measures, the east west line from Gresham to Hillsboro is almost 'Charleroi'
length isn't it - 33-miles - from downtown Portland, 15-miles east and 18-miles west.
They have expanded and have several more lines;  Portland is becoming a 'system' of
rail now isn't it.  Presumably with more mileage than Pgh. it would be expected that
Portland would carry more passengers.

>From a technological standpoint the MAX system is highly professional and efficient;
they apparently scrutinized options carefully at what could be considered 'ad nauseum'
but the results speak magnitudes in the effort behind them.  This aspect of MAX could
translate very well to other systems.

But to state that the 'social decisions,' to use a term, behind MAX will work
everywhere is denying individuality;  social aspects of transit that work well
in one area will not always do well elsewhere.  Transit malls is a case in point.
They may be successful in some locations but they were tried and failed in others.
Didn't Chicago convert State street to a transit mall for a spell?  It failed and was
removed.  Promoting such and endless discussions on same are just that aren't
they - talk and endless discussions.  I don't remember the near North Side conversion
being billed as a transit mall nor was East Liberty considered a transit mall  (please
correct if wrong)  but my understanding is they produced far less than expected
in results;  they were / are quite disappointing compared to projections.



Phil