People have debated spending a billion dollars on extending Max to Vancouver, Washington, for decades. The problem is that the existing buses from Portland to Vancouver are faster than Max will be, because it is a streetcar. It doesn’t make sense to spend a billion dollars on a slower mode of transport when you could instead add more double-decker buses to the commute.
So then I thought, well, if light rail doesn’t make sense, why not add a commuter rail between Portland and Vancouver, Washington? If you can get there in under 30 minutes, a commuter rail option would be preferable to any other mode.
It currently takes 26 minutes on Amtrak Cascades between Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington. The main issue is that the bridge across the Columbia River is 30 mph and is an indirect route.
But this can be easily solved.
Instead of running west of the Willamette River, they use the UP Portland Subdivision. A commuter rail could easily cut out time wasted going the long way around. Run the train across the Steel Bridge and drop passengers off at Portland Union Station.
It is possible to start a 20-minute commuter rail between Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. Most of the infrastructure already exists. It will be twice the speed of the proposed Max extension, be separated grade, and the infrastructure already exists.
Why wait, Portland and Vantucky? Start the Portland-Vancouver commuter rail today!