From Portland Afoot

Portland Afoot's low-car voter guide is an ongoing effort to track the positions of local politicians on transportation issues of interest to low-car households in the Portland area.

The 2012 edition of the guide was prepared for Portland Afoot by Aaron Brown, an independent North Portland-based active transportation advocate working at the time as an Americorps fellow for The Intertwine. For summaries of each candidates' position on key local transportation issues and excerpts from Brown's interviews, see each of the pages below.

Ballots for the primary election are due May 15. If no candidate achieves a majority in that round, the top two candidates in each race advance to the Nov. 6 general election.

Contents 1 For Portland City Council 2 Questions we asked 2.1 For Portland City Council candidates only 2.2 For Metro Council candidates only 2.3 For both council and Metro candidates 3 How to add to the guide

[edit] For Portland City Council

• 2012 Portland mayoral election: Charlie Hales vs Jefferson Smith
• ‎2012 Portland City Council election: Amanda Fritz vs Mary Nolan

See also our general page about the Portland City Council and what it does.

[edit] Questions we asked

[edit] For Portland City Council candidates only

• With the Portland to Lake Oswego streetcar project tabled, would you like to see the city continue to invest in Mayor Adams' Streetcar Plan?
• As Commissioner, will you continue to support city funds for Sunday Parkways?
• What, if anything, would you do to continue YouthPass after it expires in May of 2012?

[edit] For Metro Council candidates only

• In 2011, about 25% of Metro's regional flexible funds were dedicated to "Green Economy" freight projects, and the rest was dedicated to projects predominantly involving active transportation. Should Metro's regional flexible funds be tilted more toward freight, less, or is the split about right?

[edit] For both council and Metro candidates

• What can Metro/the city do to make transit more cost-effective?
• Would you be willing to go lobby the Oregon Senate and House for a higher statewide gas tax or mileage fees?
• Would you be proactive in encouraging anti-congestion tolling on private automobiles on facilities such as the Sylvan Tunnel or I-84?
• It is becoming increasingly difficult to find cheap housing near transit amenities. What role should Metro/the city play in encouraging workforce housing near transit?
• The CRC project continues to make headlines for its inability to clear political and engineering hurdles. Given the uncertain state of the CRC project, would you ever sign off on a bridge without light rail, a bike/walking route and tolling?
• Some riders complain that because TriMet's management answers to the governor's office in Salem, local transit riders' needs are neglected. Would you, as an elected official, support any initiative involving reforming TriMet for more local control?
• And finally: What's your favorite public transit facility and your favorite active transportation facility?

[edit] How to add to the guide

Though Brown conducted his interviews with only the top fundraisers in each race as of April 2012, Portland Afoot invites your contributions about these and any other candidates.

To improve any of these guides, please don't hesitate to click "edit" under "improve this page" in the right-hand column. Don't forget to scroll to the bottom of the page and hit "save" after you've made any additions. Portland Afoot's staff will review your contributions to make sure they're factually accurate and well-formatted.