Portland has an exciting expanding rail transit system. The centerpiece of this system is the MAX line operated by Tri-Met which is the three county transportation organization for the Portland Metro area.
The Max line is a so-called light rail line that operates in a combination of separate right-of-way and street running through the area from Gresham on the east to Hillsboro on the west. Efforts to run a new line from Clackamas on the south across the Columbia River to Vancouver Washington were thwarted by the efforts of anti-transit forces in a ballot initiative. The anti-transit forces then pushed through a state-wide initiative in Oregon that when it passed ended the state's contribution to the north-south line which had been shortened to just reach northern Portland. Well, after that, the anti-transit crew convinced the voters of Washington and Clackamas counties to vote against the local share of north-south so now only an extension from downtown north seems possible since it would stay in Multnomah county which voted for the extension. A new financing model would have to be used to pay for it though.
This doesn't mean that MAX is not being extended. Right now Airport MAX is under construction. This line is being paid for without federal funds. The principals are Tri-met, the City of Portland, the Port of Portland, and Bechtel which is the prime contractor for the project. The airport extension should be open in the fall of 2001.
The other new rail piece in the Portland transit mix is the new Portland Streetcar line. This is an entirely new street rail line which is being introduced between Portland State University and inner Northwest Portland. Track is being put into place now and the cars themselves are under construction at the Skoda plant in the Czech Republic. This line should also be open in the fall of 2001.