Rick Gustafson
From Portland Afoot
Rick Gustafson is a transportation designer, planner and administrator in Portland. He currently works as a principal for development firm Shiels Obletz Johnsen and the executive director of Portland Streetcar, Inc.
[edit] Support for free bike zone downtown
In a Street Talk interview for Portland Afoot's December 2010 issue, Gustafson said he supports eliminating the Free Rail Zone downtown and using the city's savings to make a bike-sharing service free downtown for trips of 30 minutes or less.
Eliminating the Free Rail Zone would also solve a problem faced by Portland Streetcar. The streetcar, currently free within the Free Rail Zone, would have to charge $2.25 per ride on the inner east side if it sticks with TriMet's current fare system.
"You ride the westside for free, and you ride the eastside for $2.25," Gustafson said. "Those of us who live on the eastside should pick up some rocks and throw them at the westside. 'You bastards! You got all the money, and you get free rides besides!' I want there to be a 'central city fare' of $1 for zone 1."
[edit] Career
Gustafson worked as a research economist for General Motors in Warren, Michigan from 1969 to 1973. He then became a senior planner for TriMet, where he planned operations during construction of the transit mall and wrote the staff report that led to the creation of Fareless Square.
In 1975, Gustafson was elected to the first of two terms in Oregon's house of representatives, where he served on the Ways and Means Committee.
In 1978, he was elected to be the first executive officer of Metro and served two terms until 1987, when he joined Shiels Obletz Johnsen. He became a principal at the firm in 1994.
He holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Yale University and a master's degree in urban economics from Wayne State University.
[edit] External links
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