Newcomer's Handbook for Moving to and Living in Portland: Including Vancouver, Gresham, Hillsboro, Beaverton, Tigard, and Wilsonville

by Geon, Bryan

  Streetcar lines have also been proposed for various other routes, including Burnside and Couch streets, Hawthorne Boulevard, Powell Boulevard, and Northeast Broadway, but budgetary obstacles are likely to doom or delay any new routes for at least a few years.

  Portland Aerial Tram

  Portland’s sleek, expensive aerial tram opened in 2007 to fanfare and criticism. Two futuristic, Swiss-made silver pods travel the 3,000 linear (and 500 vertical) feet between the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) campus high on “Pill Hill” and the Center for Health and Healing in the rapidly developing South Waterfront district. Critics include many neighborhood residents, who do not appreciate tram cars passing back and forth high overhead (thus giving passengers birds’-eye views of back yards), and fiscal watchdogs, who note that the tram cost $57 million, more than triple the original estimated cost. (OHSU picked up the bulk of the cost, with the city of Portland kicking in several million dollars.) The tram is not really a convenient transit option unless you’re headed to or from OHSU, but on a clear day it offers a heck of a view.

  Tram tickets currently cost $4.35 round-trip; OHSU staff, patients with appointments, and children six and under ride free. Tickets are only sold at the lower station. (It’s an open secret that this system results in a useful loophole: If you board at the top and ride down one-way, as a practical matter you won’t need to pay, although technically you are required to have a valid ticket.) An annual pass costs $100. Although the tram is nominally part of Portland’s public transit system, regular TriMet tickets and transfers are not valid (although monthly and annual TriMet and C-TRAN passes and annual Portland Streetcar passes are accepted). The tram runs weekdays from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; the tram operates on Sunday afternoons from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. during the summer only. Bikes are permitted and, as one would expect from a mode of transport that serves a hospital, the Aerial Tram is fully accessible. For more information, visit www.gobytram.org.

  Park & Rides

  There are more than 60 park & ride lots in TriMet service territory. You can park at these lots for free (usually for up to 24 hours) and take a bus or MAX train to your destination. Note that some of the more popular park & ride lots fill up early, and you have no guarantee of finding a parking space. Also, many of these lots are provided by churches or other private entities and are intended for weekday use only. For a list of park & ride locations, visit www.trimet.org/parkandride/, or call 503-238-RIDE. C-TRAN has six park & rides in Clark County; visit www.c-tran.com or call 360-695-0123 for locations.

  Taxis

  Unless you’re downtown or at the airport, you’ll probably need to telephone for a cab rather than hail one on the street. The following are the major (but not the only) Portland taxi companies:

  Broadway Cab, 503-333-3333, www.broadwaycab.com

  Green Cab and Green Shuttle, 503-234-1414, www.portlandgreencabtaxishuttle.com

  Radio Cab, 503-227-1212, www.radiocab.net

  Union Cab, 503-222-2222, www.unioncabpdx.com

  At press time, car-share services such as Uber and Lyft do not operate in Portland (and are in fact illegal), although these companies have begun to lobby city hall for legitimacy. In November 2014, Uber began serving the cities of Beaverton, Gresham, Hillsboro, and Tigard.

  Regional/National Travel

  Air Travel

  Portland International Airport (503-460-4234, 877-739-4636, www.pdx.com) is one of the country’s more pleasant major airports; its airport code, PDX, is often used as shorthand for the entire Portland metropolitan area. The airport is located in northeast Portland, just south of the Columbia River. There are several concourses for passenger flights, but only one terminal.

  The check-in and security screening process is usually not the nightmare it can be at some airports, but the official advice is to arrive at least two hours before your flight is scheduled to depart. In most cases, you won’t need nearly that much time unless you’re traveling at peak hours, but at least the airport shops and restaurants are above average, and in many cases are outposts of local businesses like Powell’s Books, The Real Mother Goose, and Elephant’s Deli. You’ll often encounter live entertainment at PDX—pianists, guitarists, singers, perhaps even a harpist or roaming accordion player. You can also hook up to free wireless Internet service in most parts of the airport, or let the kids work off pre-flight energy at one of the two play areas in the terminal.

  Members of certain airline mileage plans, travelers with special needs, and travelers going from Portland to Seattle can go through an “express lane” at the security checkpoint. Most airlines also participate in the TSAPre√expedited screening program. Security requirements are constantly in flux, so check with your airline for the latest information on check-in procedures, availability of curbside check-in, and identification requirements. For up-to-date regulations on the handling of liquids, electronics, shoes, and other potentially dangerous objects, visit the Transportation Security Administration website (www.tsa.gov).

  Because Portland is not a national hub, no one airline dominates the market; however, PDX serves as a regional hub for Alaska Airlines, which together with Southwest and Delta, carries about two-thirds of all passengers who come through the airport. There are nonstop flights from Portland to most major metropolitan areas in the United States and to most mid-size cities (and some small cities) in the West; in addition, there are nonstop international flights to Tokyo, Amsterdam, Guadalajara, Vancouver, and Calgary, and seasonal nonstops to Frankfurt, Reykjavik, Puerto Vallarta, and Los Cabos.

  The following airlines serve Portland:

  Air Canada, 888-247-2262, www.aircanada.com

  Alaska Airlines, 800-252-7522, www.alaskaair.com

  American Airlines, 800-433-7300, www.aa.com

  Condor, 800-524-6975, www.condor.com

  Delta Air Lines, 800-221-1212, www.delta.com

  Frontier Airlines, 800-432-1359, www.flyfrontier.com

  Hawaiian Airlines, 800-367-5320, www.hawaiianair.com

  Icelandair, 800-223-5500, www.icelandair.com

  JetBlue Airways, 800-538-2583, www.jetblue.com

  SeaPort Airlines, 888-573-2767, www.seaportair.com

  Southwest Airlines, 800-435-9792, www.southwest.com

  Spirit Airlines, 801-401-2200, www.spirit.com

  United Airlines, 800-864-8331, www.united.com

  US Airways, 800-428-4322, www.usairways.com

  Virgin America, 877-359-8474, www.virginamerica.com

  Volaris, 866-988-3527, www.volaris.com

  Getting to and From the Airport

  TriMet’s Red Line MAX (light rail) trains run directly to the terminal; the airport station is just east of baggage claim. At press time, a one-way ticket to or from downtown Portland is $2.50 for adults, and the trip takes about 35 to 40 minutes.

  If you’re driving, make your way to Interstate 205 and take the exit for Airport Way West, then follow Airport Way to the terminal. Sandy Boulevard makes a good alternative route during the evening rush hour; take Sandy to Northeast 82nd Avenue, and go north to Airport Way. Travel time from downtown Portland is about 20 to 40 minutes, depending on traffic. When it reaches the terminal, the airport roadway splits into two levels: the upper roadway is for departures, and the lower roadway is for arrivals. Stopping is allowed only for active pick-up or drop-off of passengers and loading or unloading luggage. If you need to park, see “Airport Parking” below.

  Taxis, door-to-door shuttles, charter buses, long-haul shuttles, and courtesy shuttles for airport hotels, off-airport parking and car rental facilities, and long-term parking lots depart from the lower roadway outside baggage claim. Many downtown hotels offer shuttle service to or from the airport; call ahead for times, costs, and companies. (Transport may be free or at a reduced rate if you are a hotel guest.) For a list of door-to-door shuttle services and other airport transportation options, visit www.portofportland.com/PDX_Grnd_Trnsprtn.aspx or call the airport’s ground
transportation office at 503-460-4686.

  Airport Parking

  The airport parking garage is connected to the terminal by tunnels and skyways, so it’s convenient for parking when curbside drop-off or pick-up won’t do. Parking is $3 per hour; people on expense accounts and other big spenders can park here for $27 per day. People with larger expense accounts and no time to lose can use Gold Key valet parking for $10 per hour or $30 per day, with optional car washing and detailing services. Motorcycle and bicycle parking is free. The long-term parking garage is next to the short-term garage; it’s a longer walk from the terminal, but shuttles run frequently; parking is $21 a day. The red and blue economy lots are not walking distance from the terminal; you’ll have to rely on the shuttle bus, but parking is only $10 per day. (If you park for a week, the seventh day is free.)

  Various off-airport lots also serve PDX travelers. You can browse off-airport lots and make parking reservations at www.airportparkingreservations.com; they charge a booking fee on top of the parking cost. In many cases, unless you have a coupon or other discount, the off-airport lots are only marginally cheaper than the official economy lots. (Online searches typically uncover various coupons, with ever-changing promotions, for these lots.) If you have a very early departure or very late arrival, many airport hotels offer hotel and parking packages that often are no more expensive than the cost of a room; you can usually leave your car at the hotel for a week or more. Some (but not all) of these deals are available from www.parksleepfly.com; alternatively, just call an airport hotel directly or visit its website. (See Temporary Lodgings for some suggested airport hotels.)

  Train

  Amtrak passenger trains stop at historic Union Station, just north of downtown at the northern end of Portland’s Transit Mall. The popular Cascades service (www.amtrakcasacades.com) runs from Eugene to Vancouver, British Columbia, via Seattle. Currently there are four Cascades trains a day in each direction from Portland to Seattle, and two trains in each direction between Portland and Eugene. Scheduled travel time to Seattle is about three-and-a-half to four hours, which is slightly longer than the driving time between the cities if there’s no traffic; since the Amtrak train shares tracks with freight trains, the train is subject to delays. Given the likelihood of traffic congestion, however, especially north of Olympia, and the certainty of aggravation, the train is a great alternative to driving (or for that matter, to flying) if you’re headed from one downtown to the other. Locally, the Cascades service also stops in Oregon City and in Vancouver, Washington. Two more round-trips per day between Portland and Seattle are scheduled to start in 2017, and planned track improvements should cut travel time between the cities by up to an hour.

  The Coast Starlight from Seattle to Los Angeles via Oakland passes through Portland once per day in each direction. Just a few years ago, it was not uncommon for the Coast Starlight to arrive 10 hours or more behind schedule, and the train’s chronic tardiness gave it the nickname “Starlate.” More recently the train’s on-time performance has improved. The Empire Builder runs once daily to and from Chicago via Spokane, the Idaho panhandle, the southern border of Glacier National Park, various destinations in eastern Montana and North Dakota, Saint Paul, and Milwaukee. The trip takes a minimum of 46 hours, and sleeping compartments and a dining car are available.

  For schedules, fare information, and reservations on Amtrak trains, visit www.amtrak.com or call 800-USA-RAIL (800-872-7245). Be sure to ask about promotions and discounts.

  Intercity Bus

  Portland’s Greyhound terminal (503-243-2361) is located at 550 Northwest Sixth Avenue, just south of Union Station. Greyhound buses can take you from Portland to any major city along the Interstate 5 corridor between Canada and Mexico. Greyhound buses also run east to Spokane via Washington’s Tri-Cities, and southeast to Boise, Idaho, and Salt Lake City, via Pendleton. For schedules and reservations visit www.greyhound.com or call the national reservation number, 800-231-2222.

  Bolt Bus (877-265-8287, www.boltbus.com), a slightly more upscale brand than its parent company Greyhound (and frankly, what isn’t?), runs up to eight trips a day from Portland to Seattle (with continuing service to Vancouver, British Columbia) and two trips a day south to Eugene. Tickets can be as low as $1 (at least one seat per bus trip), and the buses feature Wi-Fi, electric outlets for electronics, and reserved seats.

  Additional options for regional intercity bus transport include:

  Amtrak Thruway buses (800-872-7245) run south to Salem and Eugene. Tickets for these services can be reserved on the Amtrak website (www.amtrak.com).

  The Central Oregon Breeze (800-847-0157, 541-389-7469, cobreeze.com) runs daily buses between Portland and Bend (twice daily in summer).

  Northwest POINT (541-484-4100, 800-442-4106) operates Amtrak Thruway buses between Portland and Cannon Beach, Seaside, and Astoria.

  Valley Retriever (541-265-2253) connects Portland to Newport via McMinnville, Salem, Albany, and Corvallis.

  The Wave (503-815-8283, www.tillamookbus.com) offers twice-a-day trips between Portland and Tillamook, connecting with local coastal bus routes.

  Green Living

  Most Portlanders are proud of their city’s reputation for environmental leadership, and with good reason. Portland regularly garners accolades for its green policies, and the state government is trying hard to establish Oregon as a leader in green business and renewable energy. Of course, not everyone in the area is on board with the whole sustainability thing—we’re looking at you, guy in the Hummer with the “I Am the Scourge of Bicycles” bumper sticker—and the very word “sustainability” has been overused (and misused) to the point where it risks losing any specific meaning, or worse, is used as cover for products, projects, and services that upon analysis are not really “sustainable” at all. If you’re reading this chapter, however, you’re probably interested in reducing your environmental impact. There are plenty of local resources and lots of like-minded people to help you out.

  Greening Your Home

  The quickest and easiest way to have a green home is to buy one that is no bigger than you need—smaller homes consume fewer resources—and that is already well-insulated and energy-efficient, that incorporates nontoxic and sustainably produced materials, or that has features like solar-assisted water heating. Since 2007, the local real estate Multiple Listing Service, RMLS (www.rmls.com), has allowed prospective home buyers to include green home features in their searches. (This search option is currently only available to licensed real estate agents and other RMLS members.) Assuming you’re not lucky enough to move into an existing eco-dwelling, there’s plenty you can do to make your home more environmentally friendly.

  Green Remodeling

  Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (1900 SW 4th Avenue, Suite 7100, 503-823-7700, www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/) publishes a Green Home Remodeling Guide, available for download at its website. Other green building materials are also available from the office.

  In many cases, the greenest building materials are those that someone else has already used. The ReBuilding Center (3625 N. Mississippi Avenue, 503-331-1877, www.rebuildingcenter.org) stocks used building materials that have been donated or salvaged from “deconstructed” buildings. Habitat ReStore (10445 SE Cherry Blossom Drive, 503-283-6247; 13475 SW Millikan Way, Beaverton, 503-906-3823; 10811 SE Mill Plain Boulevard, Vancouver, 360-213-1313; www.pdxrestore.org) also sells donated used and new construction materials, and proceeds go to Habitat for Humanity. You might consider poking around the region’s architectural salvage stores (see Shopping for the Home for listings).

  If it’s new materials you’re after, Green Depot (819 SE Taylor Street, 503-222-3881, www.greendepot.com) carries everything from cork and marmoleum flooring to recycled glass tiles, recycled cotton batt insulation, and low-flow plumbing fixtures. If you’re doing structural work, consider using green-certified wood products; the Forest Stewardship Council (www.fscus.org) is a widely known certification program. Use n
ontoxic or least-toxic glues and finishes whenever possible; local paint companies YOLO Colorhouse (877-493-8276, www.yolocolorhouse.com), Devine Color (888-693-3846, www.devinecolor.com), Miller Paint (multiple area stores, www.millerpaint.com), and Rodda Paint (multiple area stores, www.roddapaint.com) produce quality zero-VOC (volatile organic compounds) and low-VOC paint.

  Energy Efficiency

  Reducing your home’s energy consumption, particularly its consumption of energy produced by fossil fuels or other non-renewables, is probably the single most effective way to create a greener home. In most homes, furnaces and air conditioners, appliances, and lighting are the biggest energy hogs, and you’ll get the most bang for your buck by weatherizing your home and making these systems work more efficiently. The following steps are typically recommended for boosting your home’s energy efficiency:

  Insulate and weatherize your home. Poorly insulated walls, ceilings, and floors allow heated or cooled air to escape from your house, needlessly raising your energy use (and energy bill). Also seal ductwork, insulate hot water pipes in non-conditioned spaces, and seal or caulk leaks around doors, windows, pipes, vents, attics, and crawlspaces. Replace or repair leaky old windows. These steps will also reduce drafts and increase comfort levels in your home.

  Upgrade your heating and cooling systems. Old furnaces and air conditioning units are usually much less efficient than new models. Once you’ve insulated and weatherized your home, consider replacing old units with new, efficient units, and make sure that they are properly sized for your home. A programmable thermostat can also help reduce energy consumption by adjusting the inside temperature automatically when you’re at work or asleep.

  Upgrade inefficient appliances. Replacing old, inefficient washing machines, dishwashers, water heaters, and especially refrigerators with more efficient models can have a major effect on your energy consumption (and, in the case of washing machines and dishwashers, on your water consumption, too).