Before arriving in Portland I had very high expectations of
their public transportation system, as it is well known for it’s comprehensive
planning system. Evidently so, it was immediately clear Portland has a link
between land use and transportation to help manage growth and maintain liveability
throughout the city. As observed during my time here, the development around
the TriMet MAX light rail contains a mixture of residential, retail and other
commercial uses that has created dense and diverse neighbourhoods. As a result,
this has created walkable and compact transit –oriented development. For
example, the new orange line implemented that extends out to Milwaukie, has
encouraged new stores to open around the light rail station and thus the land
value has risen within this area.
From personal experience of using the MAX lines to travel
around Portland city, I can conclude that they are fast and easy to use, which
makes the downtown area highly walkable. The diversity in terms of zoning and
transit access has a positive impact on the walkability aspect of their city
design. Additionally, the small 60m blocks as well as the skinny streets with
only 2 lanes, reflect the well-planned density of the downtown area that
creates a safe walk.
Additionally, I wasn’t expecting to have much of a culture
shock when coming to Portland, however it was quite shocking to see the large
amount of poverty and homeless people all over the city. I understand this is
an issue within most modern day cities, although in Portland I observed that
nearly every street I walked through there was at least one homeless person and
in many areas there were groups that designated as their own sheltered area. It
made it clear to me that there is serious lack of focus on policies towards
helping the homeless. In one way it’s positive that there is so much focus on
Public Transport and other important planning principles, however it seems
there are some social problems that are being left behind which does not
represent inclusive planning.
In relation to this problem area, it was encouraging to hear
the Mayor Charlie Hales speaking about the ways the city is attempting to
combat homelessness. Whereby, taking the large issue at hand and dissecting it
into smaller workable areas, such as starting off with housing for veterans and
future plans for a women’s shelter. This is a reflection of how involved his
job role is, playing a much more active part in community affairs compared to
the Mayor's role in Australian cities.
Felicity Sokolic
Felicity Sokolic
I visited this road in Portland when I went to meet my friends who were searching for help with dissertation uk. Since I was also in the UK, I had a great time in Portland enjoying the company of my friends.
ReplyDeleteWhen I went to meet my friends who were looking for "Write My Assignment For Me" in the UK, I stopped by this street in Portland. Because I was also in the UK, I had a terrific time in Portland with my pals.
ReplyDelete