This past week I had occasion to sample service on two Northwest cities’ light rail systems — Portland, Ore.‘s and Seattle, Wash.’s. These cities are relative newcomers to metro rail service; the geography of both (as well as the usual political and monetary issues) made the introduction of that mode of transportation more problematic here than in much flatter terrain without large bodies of water thrown into the mix. I took Portland’s MAX train last Sunday from a transit center stop near my mother-in-law’s home about 15 miles west of downtown Portland out to Portland International Airport (PDX), northeast of the CBD. In the car on a good day it’s about a 35-minute drive; heavy traffic (or just one accident) on the highways leading in and out of town can bump that up to a nerve-wracking hour or more. On the Red Line it’s a stress-free 55-minute trip for $2.35, and the journey ends at the southern end of the terminal, a very quick, short stroll to the ticket counters. I found the cars clean and comfortable; and in this environmentally conscious region, its bike hooks on overhead rails in designated areas make it user-friendly for those concerned with their carbon footprint. Portland’s four-line system doesn’t yet extend to all corners of the metro area but do make it easy for visitors to reach many local attractions without requiring a car or taxi. My route took me into a long tunnel under the West Hills with a stop midway at Portland’s popular and lovely Oregon Zoo. Shortly after emerging into daylight in downtown, we stopped outside the old Civic Stadium, now renamed Jeld-Wen Field and home to the city’s professional soccer team. Shortly after that, we entered the “Free Rail Zone,” which encompasses most of the downtown core (on the west bank of the Willamette River) and continues across the river to include stops at the Rose Quarter (basketball arena), Oregon Convention Center and the Lloyd Center open-air shopping mall (complete with skating rink). Patrons ride for free on the light rail cars and the Portland Streetcar in this area which also includes Union Station (with Amtrak service) — making a visitor’s travels here convenient and inexpensive! I enjoyed street-level views of my hometown as we traveled past Pioneer Courthouse Square (the city’s “living room”); upscale shops in Pioneer Place; and the quirky shops, restaurants and nightspots in the lovingly restored buildings of Old Town. I got a glimpse of the serene Classical Chinese Garden in the Chinatown neighborhood before we headed across the bridge to the arena and convention center areas on the east side. From there the views were more of the highway- and warehouse-variety; but as we neared the airport, I was rewarded with glimpses of snow-encrusted Mt. Hood to the east and Mt. St. Helens to the north. Portland’s metro system may not be as extensive as, say, Chicago’s or New York’s, but I personally believe it can’t be beat for the scenery! My experiences on Seattle’s system tomorrow. — Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor