Interesting Transit News in Portland

Since 1975 people in Portland could take all forms of transit for free in the city’s downtown core in what was called the Fareless Square. This came to an end on January 3rd and now only rail transit is free in their downtown core. This was changed because now 95% of all trip downtown can be taken on streetcar or light rail. That’s pretty impressive. Providing free transit in the downtown core is meant to give people in the downtown core incentive to move around the downtown without using a car. Also, it helps with “air quality issues—specifically, reducing carbon monoxide.”

New Free Rail Area