Portland is a PR machine for light rail & streetcar

Here are Some Facts About Portland Oregon          

“It must always be remembered how cost-effectiveness works in the public sector: the cost IS the benefit.” - author unknown

This page is being worked on!

It appears that when all costs, across all modes, are considered Trimet ALL costs:

2023

$2.76 per passenger-mile

2019 (last yr. B4 Covid)

$1.25 per passenger-mile

Page Updated November 5, 2025

---------------- calculations---------------

Data from: https://trimet.org/about/pdf/trimetridership.pdf

2023:

total system passenger-miles:..........…………………….233,632,477

total system cost..............................$647,092,199

          cost/passenger-mile............ $647,092,199 / $233,632,477 =  $2.76

2019:

total system passenger-miles:..........…………………….420,031,275

total system cost..............................$526,285,989

cost/passenger-mile............ $526,285,989 / 420,031,275 = $1.25

----------- NOTES —–––––––-

Data from:  https://trimet.org/about/pdf/trimetridership.pdf

total system cost:   (System Costs - Operations cost plus general administrative costs shared across modes and OPEB

(i.e. finance, planning, scheduling, etc.). Waivered Non-Medical program, Streetcar, and

intergovernmental pass-throughs are excluded.)

This page is being worked on!

It appears that when all costs, across all modes, are considered C-Tran costs:

2023

$6.25 per passenger-mile for 2022

2019 (last yr. B4 Covid)

$2.31 per passenger-mile for 2019

Page UpdateNovember 5, 2025

--------------- calculations---------------

—--Data sources —–

Data from: C-Tran 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, page 73 of 74
(https://mail.c-tran.com/images/CAFR/c-tran_2022_acfr.pdf)

2019 Data: https://mail.c-tran.com/images/CAFR/c-tran_2019_cafr.pdf

https://www.desmos.com/scientific

---Taxi fares for comparision —–––––-

https://uphail.com/us/wa/vancouver/ shows Vancouver taxi at $3.02/mile

https://uphail.com/us/or/portland/shows Portland taxi at $3.50/mile

(Note there may also be added fixed amount)

(Total Revenues is from from: Statement of Revenues, Expenses, and Changes in Net Position table page 27 for 2022 document; page 28 for 2019 document)

Transit costs when you show ALL COSTS