First, air quality. In the Portland area, we're sitting on the edge of compliance with federal clean air standards. We can't afford to let our region slip into noncompliance. The cost is too high in terms of expensive pollution controls on industry, on limits to opportunities to expand industries and on our health and our children s health. Expanding the transit system helps ensure that we stay within the limits set in the Clean Air Act and allows business to expand.
Transit gives people options to driving alone.
A recent study showed that Westside MAX has been able to attract new riders, decreasing the number of car trips in the Sunset corridor. This helps free up our roadways for the shipment of goods. Transportation, whether it is freight mobility or the movement of people, is critical to our well-being. Freight mobility and commerce defines our economic lifeblood. Third but not least, our award winning transit system helps define us as a region.