Made In USA: Portland's Streetcar Debut
Transportation Secretary LaHood lauds Portlands dedication to transit, environment
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood was in Oregon the other day to tout metro Portland's mass transit innovations and lavish praise on the first U.S.-made streetcar in nearly 60 years.
The streetcar, built by Oregon Iron Works subsidiary United Streetcar, will be deployed in a few years on a new line connecting the Pearl District and the Oregon Museum of Science & Industry.
Portlan'd Oregonian newspaper said LaHood's first visit to Portland as a member of President Barack Obama's Cabinet was intended to underscore the administration's commitment to mass transit and walkable, mixed-use real estate development across the nation. (Read the Oregonian story)
Below, standing next to the nation's largest platinum LEED building at the base of the aerial tram in the shadow of the South Waterfront manufactured high density community, LaHood announced, "Portland is the transportation capitol of the our country, the green capitol of our country, the streetcar capitol of our country, the livable community capitol of America!"
Posted July 2, 2009
