Taming the Neighborhood Revolution: Planners, Power Brokers, and the Birth of Neotraditionalism in Portland, Oregon

Abstract

In the early 1970s, neighborhood-based movements arose in Portland, Oregon, against freeways, while networks of individuals championed a revival of rail transit. At decade's end, regional leaders rejected two interstate freeways, repudiated a freeway-based regional transportation plan, and agreed to build the beginning of a regional rail system. In seeming contradiction to their anti-auto actions, they also lobbied Congress to change federal law so that they could spend money from deleted interstate highway projects on noninterstate roads rather than on transit. This article documents how planners and power brokers in Portland negotiated among themselves to channel the energy from what began as a citizen-and neighborhood-based revolution into the beginnings of a new consensus about transit, road, and land use development by the end of the decade, one that implicitly recognized personal preference for mass mobility but that explicitly championed designs of transportation facilities to reflect local objectives.

The Role of Incentives in Implementing Successful Transit-Oriented Development Strategies

“…For instance, retail giants like Safeway or Target have their own parking norms, which are not necessarily transit friendly. Car-based lifestyle and culture are informal barriers translated into formal barriers when TODs with reduced parking norms are unable to lend funds from financial institutions with car-oriented development guidelines (Thompson, 2007).…”

“…The practice community learn and reflect on past projects, seeking to improve their next TODS. The constant monitoring of plans and policies by active and vocal citizen groups was a prominent informal incentive as well (Johnson, 2004;Thompson, 2007). Consistent public opinion favouring a more sustainable development through conservation of nature and encouraging transit use and slower modes is an informal incentive legitimising planning instruments (TPR and UGB).…”