commentReport Finds Shorter Commutes in Portland
In a report commissioned by the nonprofit organization CEOs for Cities, economist Joe Cortright finds that the average vehicular commute in Portland, Oregon, is four miles shorter than the national median of 24.3 miles for metropolitan areas.
This difference adds up to $2.6 billion per year in savings on travel expenses and time, and, although the money is hard to track, Cortright argues that commuters spend much of their out-of-pocket savings in the local economy on housing or entertainment. Cortright also finds that commuters in Portland are twice as likely as the average metropolitan resident to use public transportation to get to work and seven times as likely to use a bicycle.
Based on what you have seen and read about this project, how would you grade it? Use the stars below to indicate your assessment, five stars being the highest rating.
Finally, Cortright suggests that land development policies that encourage density, among other factors, have had a large impact on the average commute in Portland, and that these policies have also attracted residents who are more likely to desire dense neighborhoods and strong public transit systems.
To access the full report: www.ceosforcities.org/
This article was produced by BuildingGreen, Inc.- www.buildinggreen.com
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