More Evidence of a Rail Revival?

In the past, we've cited evidence of a coming revival in rail systems. Planetizen has another interesting nugget:

In Portland (where else?) the MAX light rail system opened a new branch this week, whose implications may extend far beyond the immediate increase is service, according to Oregon Live:

First contemplated in the 1970s, when construction of I-205 included land for a bus or rail corridor, the $575.7 million Green Line will send tens of thousands of people a day whooshing to and from downtown Portland. It will bring MAX service to Portland State University and could entice thousands in Clackamas County onto mass transit.

Equally significant, the line opening Saturday adds more rail service on the downtown Portland transit mall, doubling the capacity in the region's core. Future lines can tie into the north-south transit mall or the older east-west Yamhill-Morrison corridor.

Oregon Live reports that with this growth, the MAX system is becoming better integrated with city bus service and could provide the kind of choice and flexibility that could help put transit on a level playing field with the automobile.

Hmm. . .

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