It’s old news that Portland’s skyline is growing. Here’s a cool tool to see it.
Obviously Cascadia’s cities aren’t alone. Here’s a look at how some of it may be funnelled in downtown Seattle. And in Vancouver.
Category: Business
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Airline snafus boost support for rail
The combination of airline delays and Amtrak’s increasing ridership is generating goodwill that could lead to more support for passenger rail, according to a report in today’s Wall Street Journal.
Over the last 10 months, ridership on Amtrak’s fast Acela trains in the Washington-Boston corridor is up 20% — “enough new passengers to fill 2,000 Boeing 757 jets.” Ridership in the Chicago-St. Louis corridor is up 53% in the 10 months through July, the paper said. It could’ve mentioned recent gains in Cascadia too.Hopefully this trend eases some opposition to investing in rail. Then we could talk about breaking up the Amtrak monopoly and introducing more market forces aimed at improving passenger rail rather than dismantling it.
The article suggests some encouraging signs:
“You have to begin to put the infrastructure in place to put in high-speed trains,” says Gordon Bethune, who retired in 2004 as chief executive of Continental Airlines Inc. “It should be a national priority. If the French can do it, why can’t we?”
Another airline-industry legend Robert Crandall, former CEO of American Airlines parent AMR Corp., says improvements to Amtrak’s network in the Northeast are one of the best ways to reduce aviation gridlock.
In Cascadia, it’s going to be a long process — even in Washington, which has funded some rail improvements. Among other things, we need more support from the B.C. government to speed the Seattle-Vancouver corridor.
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The case against biofuel as energy solution
I saw a biodiesel VW on the road today and the green part of me said I should get one of my own to help cut oil consumption. The rest of me says truly cutting pollution and energy use is a lot more complicated.
Biofuel production — such as the new plant in Hoquiam — surely makes sense as part of an array of energy alternatives. But it seems we’re likely to accomplish more by guiding more efficient consumer behavior through incentives.
Consider this editorial in today’s L.A. Times laying out the case against ethanol, a corn-based biofuel that’s winning attention from politicians of all stripes ahead of the caucuses in Iowa. The article points out the environmental costs and makes a convincing case for fuel economy standards instead.
Meanwhile an Oregon State University study found that the cost of biofuels, including tax subsidies, is many times more than alternatives such as increased fuel efficiency.
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What to do about the Sonics
It’s a shame that the Sonics appear destined to leave Seattle after their stadium lease expires. So what to do?
Considering the benefit of having pro sports (like great theater, music, restaurants, etc.), it makes sense for some public investment in a stadium. But any deal should be off if the owners are happy to leave this prosperous area for a smaller market.
Instead, this column suggests we treat them with Uptight Seattle politeness:
You know what I’m talking about. We’ve got to fight back with our strength. Let’s give these oily Okies a three-year blast of the Seattle Freeze.
For you fans, that means: Be polite but aloof. If invited to a Sonics game, say you were thinking of going hiking. Don’t really go hiking. Don’t go to the game either. Be maddeningly noncommittal.
For civic leaders, if you run into an Oklahoma oilman, smile without showing any teeth. Say “let’s get together sometime.” Don’t return calls.
If they make demands, appoint a blue-ribbon commission. If they get impatient, talk earnestly about the process. Use the terms “inclusivity” and “community stakeholders.”
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Questions about port rivalry
News that one of Seattle’s oldest port customers is moving to Tacoma brought a variety of reactions. And unanswered questions.
The Port of Seattle seemed alarmed, saying Tacoma’s wooing of NYK Line put the relationship between the ports at risk. Today Bill Virgin notes that, if they can’t cooperate, maybe Tacoma should take over Seattle’s port.
A few remaining questions:
— If NYK Line (or another company) wants to operate its own piers, why does Seattle keep its arrangement with operator SSA?
— What does the deal cost Tacoma? Reportedly the project is $300 million, which may include building costs for any port tenant. What will the NYK arrangement cost taxpayers?
— What’s the competitive advantage of Tacoma (or Seattle) versus other ports along the West Coast? Seattle has been losing business and Tacoma’s recent gain is Seattle’s futher loss. Both will have to answer that question to beat regional rivals.
I’d like to see the region’s mainstream media tackle those questions next.
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Running a global business from Cascadia
Getty Images is moving some of its headquarters functions from Seattle to New York City, reportedly because it’s easier to do some international business there.
It begs the question: Is operating a global business from the Northwest a hardship? Nintendo plans to move. Six years ago, the departure of Boeing’s headquarters was blamed partly on the difficulty of doing business from Seattle.
Yes, global firms like Microsoft, Weyerhaueuser, Starbucks and Paccar somehow muddle through. But maybe there’s a wake-up call for the region in the latest moves.
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Even Idaho may move on transit
Even the governor of Idaho is identifying steps that can be taken now to improve traffic congestion.
The Idaho Statesman reports that the anti-tax Republican plans to boost the number of employees who telecommute and to do more to eliminate daily trips. Unfortunately there’s little talk of changing the car-dependent layout of towns that inevitably brings congestion.
In addition to managing demand for roads, it seems clear that infrastructure is needed to move more people. Luckily the community is on board with the idea of improving Boise’s transit system, at least according to this report.
Meanwhile, back in Seattle, there’s a new ad campaign seeking to convince voters that doing nothing is a better strategy. Let’s hope the region doesn’t miss its latest opportunity.
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Low unemployment means strikes
What happens when a red-hot economy leaves the number of jobs and workers closely balanced?
In British Columbia and Alberta, workers are going on strike. There are a variety of issues behind the disputes but the underlying catalyst is that employees have the upper hand for the first time after years of stagnation.
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What Vancouver can learn about rail building
Seattle’s nascent light rail line was showered with praise this week — in Vancouver.
The reason is the $50 million fund set up to help businesses impacted by construction of the light rail line through the Rainier Valley. Apparently there’s no such support for business during construction of the Canada Line, which will connect downtown Vancouver, the airport and Richmond.
It’s odd to hear praise of Seattle’s transit efforts from Vancouver, which has had rail transit for more than two decades and is considering building a fourth line. But a representative of a Vancouver neighborhood suggested B.C.’s free-market loving government might support a Seattle-style fund: “It’s a classic American approach,” he said. “It’s seen as an economic initiative to ensure a tax base, not as a handout. I thought the Campbell government might embrace this approach.”
Seattle’s Rainier Valley has been showered with support during the rail project, ever since the decision was made years ago to build that section at-grade instead of underground. Just wait until the surge of newcomers and gentrification when the line opens in 2009.
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Seattle’s latest shot at China flights
An airline that offers only business class seats wants to start flights between Seattle and Shanghai, a surprise entry in the race for more connections to China.
Beginning in 2009, MaxJet would fly to Seattle and on to Los Angeles. The airline faces stiff competition from other U.S. airlines — at least seven applications have been filed for a handfull of flights allowed under a U.S.-China treaty, according to AviationWeek.
Seattle wants nonstop connections to China to jumpstart business and tourism. Meanwhile Vancouver has daily flights to Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. This month a new airlines started nonstops between Hong Kong and Vancouver, meaning there are now 30 flights a week on that route.
