Getting on Track

摘要

Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon are very similar in size and scope, but the decisions they made years ago help explain why one city is still stuck in traffic and the other has found better things to do with its time. While the average Seattle commuter is caught in gridlock―alone in his or her car―an increasing number of Port-landers are walking home from work or reading a book while using public transportation. While both cities are still experiencing high levels of traffic congestion, Portland is moving more people, on a more-frequent basis. Portland's transportation infrastructure has transformed many of the once-lingering districts to densely populated urban cores. With light rail transit as the key, Seattle is moving in the same direction, but internal division is hampering progress.