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TriMet's Blue Line is proving a worthy investment, according to a new study.

(The Oregonian)

When it comes to stimulating real-estate investments and combating traffic jams, no U.S. surface transit system has been more successful than TriMet's Gresham-to-Hillsboro MAX Blue Line, according to a new study released Tuesday.

The 33 miles of light-rail track has generated $6.6 billion in transit-oriented development designed as an alternative to traditional car-dominated suburban growth, the Washington, D.C.,-based Institute for Transportation and Development Policy found.

At the same time, with transit systems and cities across the country struggling to recover from the Great Recession, the report questioned whether light-rail is the most efficient way to invest limited transit dollars.

In fact, researchers found that bus rapid transit, a concept first developed in South America that gives buses dedicated lanes through gridlock, offers a bigger bang for the buck than light rail or streetcar.

The study uses Cleveland's Healthline BRT as the model.

"While a tough regional economy and shrinking population forced many of the surrounding cities to cut public services and reduce jobs in the public and private sectors," the report (PDF) says, "Cleveland managed to transform a modest $50 million investment in bus rapid transit into $5.8 billion in new transit-oriented development."

<a href="http://polldaddy.com/poll/7423463/">Should the Southwest Corridor from Portland to Tigard and Sherwood have Bus Rapid Transit or Light Rail?</a>

By placing bus rapid transit in a strategic corridor where government redevelopment efforts were concentrated, Cleveland managed to stimulate $114.54 dollars of transit-oriented investment for every dollar it invested into the BRT system, the study found.

The result? "Adding jobs and revitalizing the city center," the report says.

Cleveland's BRT line managed to take in $5 million per mile of transit investment, while the MAX Blue Line generated $3.74 million per mile, the research showed.

Still, Jim Middaugh, a spokesman for the Metro regional government, said the return on investment depends on much more than simply building BRT instead of light rail in a transportation corridor.

"It's all how you define the bang," Middaugh said. "The important takeaway from study is that it takes a whole sweep of actions and investments for transit and community to work well."

Regional leaders are considering bus rapid transit as well as a new light-rail line for the Southwest Corridor stretching from Southwest Portland into Sherwood and Tigard. BRT is also part of the development and transportation discussion along the Powell-Division Corridor in Southeast Portland.

"I think the study validated the decisions we have made and where we're looking to go in the future," Middaugh said.

The Portland Streetcar, meanwhile, scored "below basic" in the study, when compared to transit-oriented development linked to BRT projects.



Still, the streetcar, long promoted as an urban development tool, showed a respectable $41.50 invested for every dollar spent, the research shows.

-- Joseph Rose