Decline and Fail of Portland's Planning

Portland has lost its 'crown' as a transportation Mecca not because its done badly, but because it has ceased innovating. When Portland created the first bus couplet, it was the first in the nation. It later lead in the adoption of Light Rail, and then in Streetcar. But the 'Grand Plan' for the next 20 years? A massive streetcar network. Not to slander streetcar, but it is a low speed, high access, short-hop mode of transit. You can build a downtown around it, but not a modern metropolis.