Portland is a young city with an immature transit system far from the critical mass required to make transit a more attractive option than cars. While this benefits those fit and wealthy, the majority of people are at a significant competitive disadvantage. Public investment sparks private development. Early subdivision developers built and operated streetcars to enhance the value and attractiveness of their property. Streetcars benefit activity centers such as churches, schools, cultural institutions, retail centers and employment centers.
Streetcars support vertical integration of uses including housing and offices above stores.
Streetcars are cheaper and more efficient to operate than buses and have less environmental impact. People prefer to consume than to invest. Buses as the sole and primary means of transit is extremely inefficient and not economically sustainable. Buses pollute, are costly to maintain and operate, and are unreliable. Streetcars pay off for many decades.