More Portland State students using alternative transportation
The most popular way to get to the university is by bus, MAX train and Portland Streetcar, which together accounted for 44 percent of trips to campus by staff and faculty and 40 percent by students in fall 2010.

The most popular way to get to PSU is by bus, MAX train and Portland Streetcar (shown), which together accounted for 44 percent of trips to campus by staff and faculty and 40 percent by students in fall 2010. Photo courtesy neighborhoods.org via Flickr
[IMAGE]Portland-State-U-streetcar-2.jpg[/IMAGE]A new Portland State University (PSU) transportation survey shows that significantly more students, faculty and staff are choosing to take public transit, walk, bike and carpool to the Oregon-based campus than 10 years ago.
The most popular way to get to PSU is by bus, MAX train and Portland Streetcar, which together accounted for 44 percent of trips to campus by staff and faculty and 40 percent by students in fall 2010.
"When you look at these numbers, it's not alternative transportation for us anymore," said Ian Stude, PSU's transportation options manager. "Portland is known as a bicycle-friendly city and, likewise, we have one of the best transit systems in the nation. Both of those networks are well connected to the university by design, creating some really attractive and convenient options other than driving."
The fastest growing way to get to campus is by bicycle. Last fall, 12 percent of trips were made by bike, up from 3 percent for students and 5 percent for employees in 2000. Students and employees driving alone made about one quarter of the trips to campus last fall, about one-half as many as 10 years ago.
PSU distributed the electronic survey about transportation choices and perceptions to all 5,000 employees and a random sample of 8,000 of its 30,000 students. The survey was completed by 960 employees and 1,109 students. Survey respondents were asked to recall the transportation mode used to travel the greatest distance to PSU each day of the previous week.
PSU, an urban university located in downtown, is taking a lead in promoting alternatives to cars by offering:
More than 2,000 bicycle parking spots, including indoor spots in two new bike garages.
A new on-campus bike repair shop called the PSU Bike Hub.
Portland's first Cycle Track, an enhanced bike lane through campus.
Discounted student and employee transit passes.
The new MAX Green Line train to PSU, making the campus a hub for light-rail trains, streetcars, and multiple bus lines.
In addition, PSU's Center for Transportation Studies in the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs is a leader in multidisciplinary transportation research and education. Faculty and students are breaking new ground in transportation research areas such as electronic vehicles, bicycles, transit, land use, finance and planning.
METRO TV: To see how PSU students are getting to campus, watch its video "Roads Rails Trails," here.
More Bus

New York Unveils Sweeping Plan to Modernize City Bus Service
Next Stop: Fast Buses, Better Service identifies 50 priority bus corridors for improvements across the five boroughs and launches the City’s next generation of rapid bus service along five key routes.
Read More →
CTDOT Taps STV for Electric Bus Facility Design
The firm will work with CTDOT and RVT to define the facility layout, operational requirements, and long-term flexibility for RVT’s growing electric fleet.
Read More →
Ford to Leave JTA After More Than 10 Years as CEO
He plans to continue his work advancing innovative mobility solutions to improve the quality of life in communities across the nation. He did not announce specific plans.
Read More →
Transit Leaders Push for Bus Procurement Reforms to Reduce Costs
Industry experts said reducing unnecessary bus customization and modernizing purchasing practices could help transit agencies buy more vehicles, improve reliability, and make better use of limited funding.
Read More →
Executive Order Aims to Improve Transit Access Across California
The order directs state agencies to streamline transit project delivery, improve coordination, and expand access to bus and passenger rail services across California.
Read More →
Biz Briefs: Endera Delivers to California, Safety Vision Teams with San Antonio's VIA, and More
From manufacturers and suppliers to transit agencies and motorcoach operators, these updates offer a snapshot of the projects, partnerships and business moves driving the industry forward.
Read More →
VIA's Silver Line Clears Environmental Review, Advances Toward Construction
The VIA Rapid Green Line is currently under construction, with service expected to begin in April 2028.
Read More →
Modernizing Mobility with CharterUP CEO Armir Harris
From digital transformation to evolving customer demands, CharterUP's Armir Harris offers his perspective on the transportation industry's next chapter.
Read More →
CTTC Enhances Transit Workforce Pipeline Through New Partnerships and Leadership
The group's latest initiatives focus on developing talent, expanding training opportunities and addressing workforce needs across the transit sector.
Read More →
Biz Briefs: Montréal Debuts Nova Electric Buses and More
In this edition of Biz Briefs, we spotlight the latest developments shaping the future of mobility.
Read More →