120-640: The Portland Aerial Tram or OHSU Tram is an aerial tramway in Portland, Oregon , that connects the city's South Waterfront district and the main Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) campus, located in the Marquam Hill neighborhood . It is one of only two commuter aerial tramways in the United States, the other being New York City's Roosevelt Island Tramway . The tram travels
240-441: A haulage rope ), and one or two passenger or cargo cabins. The fixed cables provide support for the cabins while the haulage rope, by means of a grip, is solidly connected to the truck (the wheel set that rolls on the track cables). An electric motor drives the haulage rope which provides propulsion . Aerial tramways are constructed as reversible systems ; vehicles shuttling back and forth between two end terminals and propelled by
360-425: A 3–2 vote of the city council. This revised funding plan required concessions from all parties involved, and called for a final budget of $ 57 million, with contributions from the city at $ 8.5 million, or nearly 15% of the overall budget. This final budget was met. The tram's operating costs are also higher than expected. Originally, it was expected to cost $ 915,000 annually, but is now expected to be $ 1.7 million. As
480-461: A cable loop which stops and reverses direction when the cabins arrive at the end stations. Aerial tramways differ from gondola lifts in that gondola lifts are considered continuous systems (cabins attached onto a circulating haul rope that moves continuously). Two-car tramways use a jig-back system: a large electric motor is located at the bottom of the tramway so that it effectively pulls one cabin down, using that cabin's weight to help pull
600-496: A construction delay of six months. Higher steel costs, weakening US dollars, and engineering modifications were blamed. By October, The Oregonian reported that steel costs had led to bids pushing the project's price (with contingency funds) to $ 45 million. The increased cost was expected to be met through South Waterfront urban renewal contributions which would have otherwise been spent on streets and parks. In January 2006, Portland city commissioner Sam Adams , who inherited
720-502: A continuously circulating cable whereas aerial trams simply shuttle back and forth on cables. In Japan, the two are considered as the same category of vehicle and called ropeway , while the term cable car refers to both grounded cable cars and funiculars . An aerial railway where the vehicles are suspended from a fixed track (as opposed to a cable) is known as a suspension railway . An aerial tramway consists of one or two fixed cables (called track cables ), one loop of cable (called
840-769: A few months, leading to the creation of the Vancouver Housing Authority and six new residential developments : Fruit Valley, Fourth Plain Village, Bagley Downs, Ogden Meadows, Burton Homes and McLoughlin Heights. Each of these was later incorporated into the city, and are well-known neighborhoods, while the neighboring "shipyard city" of Vanport, Oregon , would be destroyed by the Memorial Day flood of 1948. Vancouver has experienced conflicts with other Clark County communities because of rapid growth in
960-532: A horizontal distance of 3,300 feet (1,000 m) and a vertical distance of 500 feet (152 m) in a ride that lasts three minutes. The tram was jointly funded by OHSU, the City of Portland , and by South Waterfront property owners, with most of the funding coming from OHSU. It is owned by the city and operated by OHSU. While most passengers are affiliated with OHSU, it is open to the public and operated as part of Portland's public transportation network that includes
1080-528: A household in the city was $ 41,618, and the median income for a family was $ 47,696. Males had a median income of $ 37,306 versus $ 26,940 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 20,192. 9.4% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.1% of those under the age of 18 and 8.2% of those 65 and older. The Vancouver economy is characterized by border economics with neighboring Portland, Oregon. The state of Washington levies no individual or corporate income taxes and levies
1200-704: A nuisance, with two of the most destructive occurring in June 1894 and May 1948. The 1948 Columbia River flood almost topped the Interstate Bridge's support piers and completely destroyed nearby Vanport, Oregon . Other unusual storms include the Columbus Day Storm of 1962 and an April 5, 1972, tornado which rated F3 on the Fujita scale , striking a local school. An EF1 tornado struck on January 10, 2008 , just after noon, causing moderate damage along
1320-432: A pair of 2-inch (51 mm) steel track ropes, totaling four cables. The track ropes combined are tensioned at over one million pounds-force (4,400,000 N). A fifth cable—the haul rope—is a continuous loop which winds around the drive bullwheel at the lower station, connects to one car, winds through a counterweighted bullwheel at the upper station, then to the other car, before joining itself. The haul rope length
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#17327728726011440-571: A property tax below the national average and a sales tax above the national median. The State of Oregon has even lower property taxes and no sales tax but one of the highest state income taxes. As a result, many Vancouver residents prefer to shop in neighboring Portland where they do not pay sales taxes, then live and work in Vancouver where they do not pay state income tax (though Washington residents who work in Oregon must pay Oregon income tax.) For
1560-509: A result of this configuration, much of the journey is significantly elevated above the ground, making the tram easily visible for some distance, and providing tram riders with good views of the eastern metropolitan area and the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington. The alternative to riding the tram is via public roadways which require a 1.9-mile (3.1 km) route with numerous stoplights and intersections. This route includes
1680-428: A result, the fare—originally estimated at $ 1.70—is set at $ 5.65 (as of 2022), similar to the price of an all-day ticket on Tri-Met ($ 5.00). The fare is waived for OHSU employees, students, patients, and visitors. Operating costs are divided between the city and OHSU in proportion to the ridership. (If 85% of passengers are OHSU-related, OHSU pays 85% of the operating cost.) Even prior to the cost increases which plagued
1800-487: A short stretch of busy U.S. Route 26 , as well as twisty Sam Jackson Park Road which ascends the side of the Tualatin Mountains to the hospital campus. The lower (South Waterfront) station houses the tram's engines in a reinforced concrete basement and also has ticketing facilities and the control room. The upper station is a freestanding steel and concrete tower 140 feet (42.7 m) above grade and houses
1920-718: A two-mile (3.2 km) path from Vancouver Lake to the unincorporated Hazel Dell area. Because many Vancouver residents work in Portland, there is typically significant rush-hour traffic congestion on two bridges that cross the Columbia River – the Interstate Bridge and the Glenn Jackson Bridge . In 2017 there were 297,932 weekday vehicle crossings on the two bridges. As of the 2020 census , there were 190,915 people, and 75,663 households in
2040-482: A vertical distance of 500 feet (152.4 m). The maximum vertical clearance between the tram and the ground is 175 feet (53.3 m). The tram route crosses over Interstate 5 as well as major thoroughfares such as Barbur Boulevard, Oregon Route 10 ( Naito Parkway ), and Oregon Route 43 (Macadam Avenue). The intermediate tower is located east of Interstate 5 close to the South Waterfront station. As
2160-449: A year in facility lease and maintenance costs. The Fort Vancouver Regional Library District opened a new library on C Street at Evergreen Boulevard in 2011. Future plans on C Street include a new Marriott hotel and roughly 250 new condominiums. Vancouver relies on a council–manager form of government composed of seven city council members including a non-partisan mayor's office. The mayor and council members serve four year terms. As
2280-686: Is a city on the north bank of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington , located in Clark County . Founded in 1825 and incorporated in 1857, Vancouver had a population of 190,915 as of the 2020 census , making it the fourth-most populous city in Washington state. Vancouver is the seat of government of Clark County and forms part of the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area , the 25th-largest metropolitan area in
2400-399: Is a type of aerial lift which uses one or two stationary ropes for support while a third moving rope provides propulsion. With this form of lift, the grip of an aerial tramway cabin is fixed onto the propulsion rope and cannot be decoupled from it during operations. In comparison to gondola lifts , aerial tramways generally provide lower line capacities and longer wait times. Cable car
2520-406: Is closed on Sundays and major holidays, except afternoon summer Sunday service is available. The tram is free for OHSU employees, students, patients, and visitors. TriMet , C-Tran , and Portland Streetcar monthly and annual passes are honored. A ride on the tram normally lasts three minutes. Transportation officials originally estimated the tram would carry over 1,500 people a day, a figure that
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#17327728726012640-438: Is common in council-manager municipal government, the council oversees legislative issues such as local ordnances, while executive and administrative leadership is carried out by a city manager hired by the council. Vancouver also serves as the seat of Clark County and its associated county manager and council . In the early 2000s, Vancouver began seeing a revitalization of the local arts scene and cultural events. In 2010 there
2760-579: Is located beside an OHSU facility in the South Waterfront neighborhood, adjacent to a stop on the Portland Streetcar line, which connects the South Waterfront neighborhood with downtown Portland. The upper station is located adjacent to OHSU Hospital, on the university's Marquam Hill campus. The two stations are exactly east and west of each other separated by a horizontal distance of 3,300 feet ( 5 ⁄ 8 mi; 1.0 km) and
2880-511: Is over 7,000 feet (2,134 m). The tram cars each weigh approximately 12 short tons (10.7 long tons; 10.9 metric tons), with cabin dimensions of 25 by 11 feet (7.62 by 3.35 m). Each car has a capacity of over 13 short tons (11.6 long tons; 11.8 t) and there is sufficient room in the cabin for 78 passengers and one operator. The tram cars were built by Gangloff AG , of Bern in Switzerland, and were shaped and painted to look like
3000-516: Is the usual term in British English, where tramway generally refers to a railed street tramway . In American English, cable car may additionally refer to a cable-pulled street tramway with detachable vehicles (e.g., San Francisco's cable cars ). As such, careful phrasing is necessary to prevent confusion. It is also sometimes called a ropeway or even incorrectly referred to as a gondola lift . A gondola lift has cabins suspended from
3120-667: The Cascade Range create something of a venturi effect , leading to cold east winds down the Columbia River Gorge. Unsheltered by the Willamette Valley , Vancouver has historically seen colder temperatures, including "silver thaw" storms where freezing rain cakes limbs and power lines. Such storms can paralyze Vancouver. This occasionally freezes the river, and in 1916 cut electric power in the city for almost two weeks. Rainfall occurs frequently throughout
3240-605: The Chinookan population from an estimated 80,000 "to a few dozen refugees, landless, slaveless and swindled out of a treaty". Meriwether Lewis wrote that the Vancouver area was "the only desired situation for settlement west of the Rocky Mountains ". The first permanent European settlement did not occur until 1824, when Fort Vancouver was established as a fur trading post of the Hudson's Bay Company . From that time on,
3360-534: The National Register of Historic Places . Some residents filed a lawsuit against the city and OHSU, claiming that they own the "airspace" above their properties. The city later offered to purchase homes directly under the tram route at fair market value. In the initial years after its completion, the tram was unpopular with some living underneath its route. In April 2007, homeowner Justin Auld, living under
3480-580: The Portland Streetcar , MAX Light Rail , and TriMet buses. After opening in December 2006, the tram carried its one millionth passenger on October 17, 2007 and its ten millionth rider on January 8, 2014. A round-trip ticket costs $ 8 but is free for OHSU patients and certain visitors; OHSU employees and students ride free by showing their ID badges. The tram cost $ 57 million to build—a nearly fourfold increase over initial cost estimates, which
3600-649: The San Juan Mountains of the US state of Colorado . Another famous use of aerial tramways was at the Kennecott Copper mine in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park , Alaska . Other firms entered the mining tramway business—Otto, Leschen, Breco Ropeways Ltd., Ceretti and Tanfani, and Riblet for instance. A major British contributor was Bullivant who became a constituent of British Ropes in 1924. In
3720-515: The city council accepted PDOT's recommendations and asked PDOT and PATI to proceed to the design phase, including a design competition. Both were also asked to work with residents of the affected neighborhoods to identify ways to mitigate the tram's impact and identify other desired neighborhood improvements which should accompany the project. One of the results of that process was the Gibbs Street Pedestrian Bridge , which
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3840-600: The "Fort Vancouver National Trust" ) continues to organize the fireworks event. The fireworks were not held in 2020 or 2021 due to COVID-19. 4 Days of Aloha, also known as the Hawaiian Festival, takes place in late July in Esther Short Park, Clark College, and Fort Vancouver. Started in 2012 by "Aunty" Deva Yamashiro, a hula dancer and self-appointed cultural ambassador for Hawaii, the festival features live music, dance performances, craft workshops, and
3960-532: The 2007 Presidential Award of Excellence from the American Institute of Steel Construction . According to city commissioner Adams, a cheaper alternative which would have changed the tower's designs to a lattice style used in electrical transmission towers , was not considered because the result would look like an "ugly ski lift at a bad ski resort" and leave the city with what Adams called an "ugly postcard " that could last 100 years. Critics of
4080-471: The City of Vancouver agreed to purchase the office building for use as a new city hall for $ 18.5 million, a fraction of the $ 41.5 million sale price the owners of The Columbian office building had been asking prior to filing for bankruptcy. In 2011, the city consolidated five separate buildings housing 300 employees into the new building, located at 415 W. 6th Street. The move saved the city approximately $ 1 million
4200-512: The South Waterfront Local Improvement District pay the remaining $ 3.7 million. In April 2004, the second public review was held to present project recommendations prior to a May review by the city council. The costs by then were estimated to be $ 28.5 million, including soft costs. The city's share at that time was $ 3.5 million. In April 2005, the price was readjusted again to $ 40 million with
4320-615: The Standifer Shipyard during the first world war. With the Interstate Bridge and Bonneville Dam Vancouver saw an industrial boom in the 1940s, including the Kaiser shipyard and Alcoa , as well as a Boise Cascade paper mill, just west of the Interstate Bridge. As the old-growth forests were depleted and heavy industry left the United States, Vancouver's economy largely changed to high tech and service industry jobs, with many residents commuting to Portland. Vancouver contains
4440-567: The Symphony regularly performs concerts. Every June since 2006, the Recycled Arts Festival held in Esther Short Park has featured the work of dozens of artists whose creations are made from at least 75% reused or recycled materials, along with live music and food. Since the mid-1960s, Vancouver has hosted a Fourth of July fireworks display on the grounds of Fort Vancouver National Historic Site that draws many people to
4560-491: The U.S. city is older. Vancouver, British Columbia, was incorporated 29 years after the incorporation of Vancouver, Washington, and more than 60 years after the name Vancouver was first used in reference to the historic Fort Vancouver trading post on the Columbia River. City officials have periodically suggested changing the U.S. city's name to Fort Vancouver to reduce confusion with its larger and better-known northern neighbor. Many Pacific Northwest residents distinguish between
4680-511: The U.S. courthouse in Oregon City, before leaving for California. In 1848, Williamson had it surveyed and platted by Peter Crawford . In 1850, Amos Short traced over the claim of Williamson and named the town Columbia City. It changed to Vancouver in 1855. The City of Vancouver was incorporated on January 23, 1857. Based on an act of the 1859–60 legislature, Vancouver was briefly the capital of Washington Territory , before capital status
4800-564: The United States. Originally established in 1825 around Fort Vancouver , a fur-trading outpost, the city is located on the Washington–Oregon border along the Columbia River , directly north of Portland . Vancouver shares its name with the larger city of Vancouver in southern British Columbia , Canada, approximately 300 miles (480 km) to the north. Both cities were named after British sea captain George Vancouver , but
4920-502: The University of Oregon Medical School. The tram is propelled by three independent drive systems. The primary drive is a 450 kilowatts (600 hp ) variable-frequency electric motor. Two hydrostatic diesel engines are also part of the design: one is a standby drive, permitting operation during a power outage ; the other is an emergency evacuation drive. A 40- short-ton (35.7- long-ton ; 36.3- metric-ton ) counterweight offsets
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5040-437: The architectural firm's vision of "bubbles floating through the sky". The surface of the cabins reflects and refracts light, minimizing their visual impact to the neighborhood underneath. The north and south cars are named Jean and Walt , respectively, after Jean Richardson, the first female engineering graduate from Oregon State University , and Walt Reynolds, the first African-American to graduate from OHSU, then known as
5160-639: The area was settled by both the US and Britain under a "joint occupation" agreement. Joint occupation led to the Oregon boundary dispute and ended on June 15, 1846, with the signing of the Oregon Treaty , which gave the United States full control of the area. Before 1845, American Henry Williamson laid out a large claim west of the Hudson's Bay Company (including part of the present-day Port of Vancouver), called Vancouver City and properly registered his claim at
5280-483: The area were reportedly Skit-so-to-ho and Ala-si-kas, respectively, meaning "land of the mud-turtles". First known European contact was made by William Robert Broughton in 1792, with approximately half of the indigenous population killed by smallpox before the Lewis and Clark Expedition arrived in the area in 1806. Within another fifty years, other diseases such as measles , malaria and influenza had reduced
5400-424: The area. The city's first annexation more than doubled its size in 1909, with the largest annexation of 1997 adding 11,258 acres (45.56 km ) and 58,171 residents. As a result of urban growth and the 1997 annexation, Vancouver is often thought of as split between two areas, East and West Vancouver, divided by NE Andresen Road. West Vancouver is home to downtown Vancouver and most of the more historical parts of
5520-484: The beginning of the 20th century, the rise of the middle class and the leisure industry allowed for investment in sight-seeing machines. Prior to 1893, a combined goods and passenger carrying cableway was installed at Gibraltar . Initially, its passengers were military personnel. An 1893 industry publication said of a two-mile system in Hong Kong that it "is the only wire tramway which has been erected exclusively for
5640-637: The cable car business: Bleichert , Heckel, Pohlig, PHB (Pohlig-Heckel-Bleichert), Garaventa and Waagner-Biró. Now there are three groups dominating the world market: Doppelmayr Garaventa Group , Leitner Group, and Poma , the last two being owned by one person. Some aerial tramways have their own propulsion , such as the Lasso Mule or the Josef Mountain Aerial Tramway near Merano , Italy . While typically used for ski resorts, aerial tramways have been ported over for usage in
5760-512: The cable run. The first design of an aerial lift was by Croatian polymath Fausto Veranzio and the first operational aerial tram was built in 1644 by Adam Wybe in Gdańsk , Poland. It was moved by horses and used to move soil over the river to build defences. It is called the first known cable lift in European history and precedes the invention of steel cables. It is not known how long this lift
5880-549: The carriage of individuals" (albeit workmen). After the pioneer cable car suitable for public transport on Mount Ulia in 1907 ( San Sebastián , Spain ) by Leonardo Torres Quevedo and the Wetterhorn Elevator ( Grindelwald , Switzerland) in 1908, others to the top of high peaks in the Alps of Austria, Germany and Switzerland resulted. They were much less expensive to build than the earlier rack railway . One of
6000-483: The cars would be an invasion of privacy and lead to lower property values. Initially, residents were promised that overhead power lines would be buried as part of the project, but as cost overruns mounted, this plan was scrapped. Neighborhood opponents of the tram have cited other reasons for opposing the tram's construction, including the fact that the North Corbett neighborhood is a historic district listed on
6120-506: The city for several years. In 2013, Washington transitioned away from being a control state . The economic history of Vancouver reflects the region. Moving from a salmon- and trade-based indigenous economy by the Chinook people, the Hudson's Bay Company pioneered extractive industries such as the fur trade and timber. Subsistence agricultural gave way to market and export crops such as apples, strawberries and prunes. Largely bypassed by
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#17327728726016240-470: The city has a total area of 49.86 sq mi (129.14 km ), of which 46.46 sq mi (120.33 km ) is land and 3.4 sq mi (8.81 km ) is water. Vancouver lies just north of Portland, Oregon, with which it shares a similar climate. Both are classified as warm-summer Mediterranean (Csb) on the Köppen climate classification , but with certain key differences. High pressures east of
6360-587: The city limits. At that point the trolley became more like a regular train as it followed a cut through the wilderness. Few houses were seen between Vancouver and Orchards. The public's growing preference for motor cars in the 1920s heralded the end of the trolley. Separated from Oregon until 1917, when the new Interstate Bridge began to replace ferries, Vancouver had three shipyards just downstream which produced ships for World War I before World War II brought an enormous economic boom. An Alcoa aluminum plant opened on September 2, 1940, using inexpensive power from
6480-475: The city of Portland threatened to withdraw funding from the tram mid-construction, which would probably have scuttled the project. OHSU protested vigorously, threatening a lawsuit should the tram be canceled, and claimed the city was responsible for making up any budget shortfall. Negotiations between the city, OHSU, and the contractors ensued, with a revised funding plan and budget being agreed upon in April 2006, by
6600-441: The city was 50.6% female, and 49.4% male. The median household income was $ 67,462, but the per capita income was $ 36,053. 12.7% of the population was below the poverty line . The ancestry of the city is 16.1% German, 10.9% English, 9.7% Irish, 3.9% Norwegian, 2.9% Italian, 2.8% French,1.5% Polish, and 0.7% Subsaharan African. As of the 2010 census , there were 161,791 people, 65,691 households, and 40,246 families residing in
6720-418: The city's oversight of the project, undertook several actions in response to spiraling costs. The executive director of PATI was ousted, and a month-long independent audit and risk assessment was undertaken; its results were published February 1, 2006. By this point, construction was over one third completed. The audit revealed that OHSU managers knew as early as 2003 that the tram would cost well in excess of
6840-546: The city, as well as recent high-density mixed-use development. East Vancouver includes the communities of Cascade Park East and West, which had populations of 6,996 and 6,956 in 1990, before annexation. More than one-third of the Vancouver urban area's population lives in unincorporated urban areas north of the city limits, including the communities of Hazel Dell , Felida , Orchards and Salmon Creek . If county leaders had approved another major annexation plan in 2006, Vancouver would have surpassed Tacoma and Spokane to become
6960-581: The city. The display routinely ran to 45 minutes, attracted up to 60,000 visitors and was broadcast on area television, one of the largest west of the Mississippi River. Due to the death of key organizer "Mister Fireworks" Jim Larson and economic conditions during the Great Recession , the show was not held in 2009. A shorter, redesigned show debuted in 2010 and brought in approximately 35,000 people. As of 2019, The Historic Trust (formerly
7080-461: The city. The population density is 3,354.7 people per square mile (1,295.3 people/km ). There were 60,039 housing units at an average density of 1,403.0 units per square mile (541.7 units/km ). According to the 2000 census, The racial makeup of the city was 76.2% White , 2.9% African American , 1.0% Native American , 5.0% Asian , 1.0% Pacific Islander , and 4.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 10.4% of
7200-410: The city. The population density was 3,482.4/sq mi (1,344.6/km ). There were 70,005 housing units at an average density of 1,506.8/sq mi (581.8/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 80.9% White , 2.9% African American , 1.0% Native American , 5.0% Asian , 1.0% Pacific Islander , 4.3% from other races , and 4.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 10.4% of
7320-446: The condition of the ropes and the drive systems. The tram was designed to safely operate in the earthquake-prone Pacific Northwest , with a structural design exceeding U.S earthquake standards , and operate in sustained winds of up to 50 miles per hour (80 km/h). The tram operates from Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Pacific Time . The tram
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#17327728726017440-532: The corporate headquarters for Nautilus, Inc. , ZoomInfo , Papa Murphy's Pizza and The Holland (parent company of the Burgerville restaurant chain). The Port of Vancouver USA operates a port on the Columbia River, which separates Oregon to the south and Washington to the north. It handles over 400 ocean-going vessels annually, as well as a number of barges which ply the river and its tributaries as far as Lewiston, Idaho . The Vancouver Energy project
7560-450: The county. The population density was 3,917.2/sq mi.The racial makeup of the city was 76.5% White, 2.3% African American, 0.6% Native American, 5.5% Asian, 1.6% Pacific Islander, and 9.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 14.7% of the population. The average household size was 2.46 people. 22.1% of the population were under 18, and 6.2% were under 5. 15.7% of people were older than 65. The gender makeup of
7680-484: The design and construction of the tram, the project has been subject to criticism from the public. Many residents in the neighborhoods under the tram's route object to the tram's presence. The cost increases themselves, and the perceived machinations of public officials, have been controversial. Many residents of the Corbett-Terwilliger and Lair Hill neighborhoods, over which the tram passes, were concerned
7800-515: The early 2000s with the construction of many tall condominium structures around Esther Short Park . The most lauded outside investment was the construction of a Hilton hotel directly across from the park. The Downtown redevelopment of Vancouver continued after a slowdown during the 2009–2012 recession. Numerous projects began to rise up around the city core and as of mid-2020 more than three dozen projects with mid-rise or high-rise structures were completed, under construction, or proposed. In 2016
7920-472: The fall, winter, and spring, but ceases around the middle of June, with dry and warm weather lasting through September. Average annual precipitation is 42 in (1,100 mm). Heavy snowfalls are infrequent and snow often falls and doesn't stick, with major snowstorms only occurring every 2–4 years. Close proximity to the river was also a concern for flooding, before dams constricted the river, destroying features such as Celilo Falls . Periodic floods have been
8040-457: The firms were shown to be owned by minorities, and 3,234 were not shown to be owned by minorities. 241 of these firms were owned by veterans. According to the city's 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report , the largest employers in the city are: In 1997, the city of Vancouver decided to dedicate the next 15–20 years to redeveloping and revitalizing the downtown core, west of I-5 and south of Evergreen Boulevard. The first projects started in
8160-400: The first ground was broken for the $ 1.5 billion, 21-block redevelopment of Vancouver's waterfront at the former site of Boise Cascade Paper Mill. The site had been inaccessible to the public for more than 100 years. The project was planned for 3,300 residential units, and roughly 1 million square feet (93,000 m ) of office and retail space. Around 15,000 people were in attendance for
8280-602: The first trams was at Chamonix , while others in Switzerland, and Garmisch soon followed. From this, it was a natural transposition to build ski lifts and chairlifts. The first cable car in North America was at Cannon Mountain in Franconia, New Hampshire in 1938. Many aerial tramways were built by Von Roll Ltd. of Switzerland, which has since been acquired by Austrian lift manufacturer Doppelmayr . Other German, Swiss, and Austrian firms played an important role in
8400-723: The heart of Orchards depicts the trolley and the rural character of the area at the time it was operating. The community was named after Doctor Sifton, a promoter of the trolley service. According to the archives of the Vancouver Columbian newspaper, the Orchards-Sifton route ran along Vancouver's Main Street to 26th Street (renamed Fourth Plain Blvd.), then from 26th to K Street and thence north to 33rd Street. From there, it ran on 33rd over Burnt Bridge Creek and past
8520-531: The importance of continued growth of OHSU for the city's economy must be factored in as well. Not only is it the largest employer in the city, but OHSU is an important and effective vehicle to attract both federal funding, totaling more than $ 168 million for 2005, and a highly skilled workforce to the area. The growth in the current campus on the Marquam Hill is limited by access roads and parking, an expansion of which would likely cause more dramatic harm to
8640-427: The late summer and early fall. On October 29, 2006, the tram's two cars arrived from Switzerland after a week-long delay. An inaugural run of the tram was conducted on November 9, 2006. Four tram construction workers were the first to test ride the tram while harnessed to the roof and suspending arm. Testing on the tram continued through November. The tram opened to OHSU employees on December 15, 2006. The tram opened to
8760-492: The lower station has easy public access, access to the upper station requires navigating through the OHSU hospital. The Cascade Policy Institute , a local libertarian research group, criticized the project for being "railroaded through the political process by small groups of private interests", and expressed doubt that tram construction would lead to new jobs. Others argue that while the issues of increasing public costs are real,
8880-495: The master plan called for a mixed-use complex of mid-rise buildings on four blocks and a complete rebuild of the original 100-year-old Terminal One dock and pier. A public open-air market is also planned. The Columbian newspaper moved to a new seven-story office building adjacent to the Hilton in 2008. Two years later, The Columbian filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and the building defaulted to Bank of America . In June 2010,
9000-422: The nearby New Deal hydropower turbines at Bonneville Dam . After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Henry Kaiser opened a shipyard next to the U.S. Army base, which by 1944 employed as many as 36,000 people in a twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week production of Liberty ships , landing ship tanks , and escort carriers . This influx of shipyard workers boosted the population from 18,000 to over 80,000 in just
9120-463: The official grand opening, in 2018, of the project and associated public space including Grant Street Pier, a cable-stayed viewing deck that extends out over the Columbia River. The Redevelopment of Terminal One master plan was approved by the city council in 2017. This $ 500 million project will include multiple phases over several years including a seven-story AC Marriott hotel that began site preparation and construction in late 2019. Future plans in
9240-405: The original $ 15.5 million figure, partially due to a change in location of the upper terminal to accommodate planned hospital construction, but had withheld that information from city leaders. This resulted in harsh public criticism of OHSU management, with city commissioner Randy Leonard accusing the university leadership of an "outrageous shell game...all at the expense of taxpayers". As a result,
9360-444: The other cabin up. A similar system of cables is used in a funicular railway. The two passenger or cargo cabins, which carry from 4 to over 150 people, are situated at opposite ends of the loops of cable. Thus, while one is coming up, the other is going down the mountain, and they pass each other midway on the cable span . Some aerial trams have only one cabin , which lends itself better for systems with small elevation changes along
9480-402: The panel and that the existing latch and tether system failed to stop the panel from falling. In an effort to prevent future incidents, the engineering company designed a new permanent anchorage and safety tether system for the roof panels. Installation of this system was due to be complete by end of summer 2019. The project suffered significant cost overruns during its construction. Final cost
9600-440: The population. There were 65,691 households, of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.7% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
9720-509: The population. 16.4% were of German, 9.2% English, 8.4% Irish and 7.9% American ancestry. 89.2% spoke English, 5.1% Spanish, 3.2% Russian, 1.4% Ukrainian and 1.1% Vietnamese at home. There were 56,628 households, out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.3% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who
9840-485: The public on January 27, 2007. On December 4, 2018, a metal roof panel from one of the aerial tramway cabins came free and fell to the ground. The 35-square-foot panel fell an estimated 130 feet, struck a pedestrian below and caused minor injuries. After the incident, the Portland Bureau of Transportation commissioned a review of the incident. The review, and subsequent report, concluded that high winds dislodged
9960-583: The railroad in the 1880s, when the Oregon Steam Navigation company would ferry trains across the river downstream from St. Helens, Oregon to Kalama, Washington , early downtown development was focused around Washington Street (where ferries arrived), lumber and Vancouver Barracks activities such as a large spruce mill for manufacturing airplanes. A 1908 railroad swing bridge across the Columbia allowed greater industrial developments such as
10080-487: The relative price of the Portland tram compared to a new tram at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort , which was built by the same company, and (as of 2007) was projected to carry 28 percent more passengers, but costing only $ 25 million. The tram's supporters, however, claimed that many of the increases are justified, or due to circumstances beyond the developers' control. The auditor's report, commissioned in 2006, complimented
10200-459: The rule is rarely, if ever, enforced except for purchases requiring registration, such as motor vehicles. The taxation and demographics of the area depresses the retail sector of Vancouver's economy. Oregon has stricter development laws to protect the timber industry; therefore, Vancouver tends to attract a higher proportion of the region's sprawling development. The voting base also led to rejection of extension of Portland's light-rail system into
10320-496: The same reasons, the city is popular with retirees. Conversely, the city is less favored by students and young adults. In 2003, 70% of workers in Vancouver worked in Clark County. There is a risk in sales tax avoidance because Washington has a use tax due on all purchases made in Oregon that are then returned to Washington. Vancouver residents "shop at their own risk" when attempting to avoid the sales tax in Washington, although
10440-616: The state's second-largest city. During 1852–54, future United States President Ulysses S. Grant , then a captain in the U.S. Army, was quartermaster at what was then known as Columbia Barracks. Soon after leaving Vancouver, Grant resigned from the army and did not serve again until the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861. Other notable generals to have served in Vancouver include George B. McClellan , Philip Sheridan , Oliver O. Howard and 1953 Nobel Peace Prize recipient George C. Marshall . Army presence in Vancouver
10560-496: The summit of the Stanserhorn in Switzerland carries 60 persons, with the upper floor accommodating 30 people in the open air. Despite the introduction of various safety measures (back-up power generators, evacuation plans, etc.) there have been several serious incidents on aerial tramways, some of which were fatal. Vancouver, Washington Vancouver ( / v æ n ˈ k uː v ər / van- KOO -vər )
10680-411: The surrounding communities. The tram has been praised for its visual impact. Critic Jeff Jahn of PortlandArt.net called the tram "the most significant new piece of architecture to be added to Portland since Michael Graves ' Portland Building in 1980". The tram has also won several architectural awards, including the American Institute of Architects ' Los Angeles chapter's 2006 NEXT Honor Award, and
10800-504: The times we went back to try to save money, we probably lost a year. Maybe we saved $ 2 million, but what did we lose? If we had an extra year, that would have meant a lot." Some critics, at the time of construction, cited the tram as an example of corporate welfare for OHSU with limited public benefit. A 2001 study done by OHSU prior to the tram's being designed projected that the tram would have 4,700 riders per day by 2030, with less than one fifth (850) of those being non-OHSU users. While
10920-417: The tram as "a dramatic, one-of-a-kind facility that will become a Portland landmark," and noted that the design was difficult to construct, requiring the tall, thin, complex tower and the tall, heavily loaded upper terminal to be built within very tight tolerances. In addition, it has been claimed that the re-planning delayed the tram's completion. One of the designers of the tram noted that "if we added up all
11040-429: The tram have also expressed concern over the tram's spoiling views for the homeowners from the city's West Hills, particularly from Gibbs Street, under the tram. 45°29′58″N 122°40′21″W / 45.499306°N 122.672578°W / 45.499306; -122.672578 Aerial tramway An aerial tramway , aerial tram , sky tram , aerial cablecar , aerial cableway , telepherique , or seilbahn
11160-459: The tram reopened to the general public after temporary restrictions on access that ultimately lasted more than two years were lifted. In late 2001, OHSU purchased property in the South Waterfront (then known as North Macadam) area, with plans to expand there. After studying several ways, including shuttle buses , gondola lifts , tunnels , and even funiculars , to connect OHSU's primary campus on Marquam Hill with this area of planned expansion,
11280-470: The tram route, placed a sign on his backyard fence stating " FUCK THE TRAM" in large block letters. The sign is not visible from the street, only from the air. The publicity surrounding the sign prompted city officials to quietly negotiate with the homeowner, and the sign has since been moved and the expletive covered. Both OHSU and the city of Portland have taken much public criticism for ballooning development costs. Local television station KATU questioned
11400-415: The tram to gain elevation quickly once leaving the lower station to provide adequate clearance over Interstate 5. The tower is 22 feet (6.7 m) wide and 20 feet (6.1 m) long at its base, 8 by 8 feet (2.4 by 2.4 m) at its narrowest point—nearly two-thirds up the tower—and 32 by 8 feet (9.8 by 2.4 m) at the top. It rests on a pier cap 5 feet (1.52 m) thick supported by 35 piers. The tower
11520-445: The tram's counterweight. It is structurally separate from nearby OHSU Hospital and connects to the hospital's ninth floor via a skybridge over SW Campus Drive, which winds through the middle of the University. Structural separation between the tram and the hospital is necessary to avoid vibrations from tram machinery interfering with delicate microsurgery performed in the hospital. The 197-foot (60 m) intermediate tower allows
11640-589: The tram, published in November 2002, was $ 15.5 million, excluding "soft costs" such as project management and architect's fees. Funding sources for the $ 15.5 million include a direct $ 4 million cash contribution from OHSU, $ 9.5 from local improvement districts set up to fund tram construction, of which OHSU's share is $ 4.8 million, and $ 2 million from the city of Portland, via the Portland Development Commission . Other property owners in
11760-468: The tram. The first public review of the project's status was November 2003. Construction began in August 2005, with work on both platforms and the intermediate tower occurring through the summer of that year. The bulk of the construction occurred in 2006. Installation of the engines and other equipment occurred during the spring and early summer of 2006, which was followed by installation of the cables during
11880-527: The two cities by referring to the Canadian city as "Vancouver, B.C." and the United States city as "Vancouver, Washington", or "Vancouver, USA". Local nicknames include "Vantucky" (though this is often used as a derogatory term) and "The 'Couv(e)". The Vancouver area was inhabited by several Native American tribes, most recently the Chinook and Klickitat nations, with permanent settlements of timber longhouses. The Chinookan and Klickitat names for
12000-403: The university and its development supporters. In May 2002, the city council accepted PDOT's process proposal and also accepted PATI as the project sponsor. PDOT's assessment led to the same conclusion OHSU had reached earlier: an aerial tram was the preferred approach. PDOT also recommended a second tram linking the Marquam Hill area with a nearby transit center on SW Barbur Boulevard. In July 2002,
12120-475: The university sought city support of an aerial tram. In early 2002, Portland Aerial Transportation, Inc. (PATI) was formed as a non-profit board. One of its first public actions was to request the Portland Bureau of Transportation (at the time known as the Portland Office of Transportation, and abbreviated as PDOT) to undertake an independent analysis of the connectivity options considered earlier by
12240-715: The urban environment in recent times. The Roosevelt Island Tramway in New York City, the Rakavlit cable car in Haifa, Israel and the Portland Aerial Tram are examples where this technology has been successfully adapted for public transport purposes. The telpherage concept was first publicised in 1883 and several experimental lines were constructed. It was designed to compete not with railways, but with horses and carts. The first commercial telpherage line
12360-758: The volcanic Cascade Range and just east of where the Willamette River enters the Columbia. The city of Vancouver is in the Western Lowlands region of Washington. When clouds do not blanket the Puget–Willamette trough formed by the Cascade and Coast Range , Mount Hood , Mount St. Helens , Mount Rainier , Mount Jefferson and Mount Adams are all visible from Vancouver. According to the United States Census Bureau ,
12480-431: The weight of the cars. The tram is capable of operating at speeds up to 22 miles per hour (35 kilometers per hour) In addition to the redundant drive system, the tram has numerous other design features intended to ensure the safety of passengers and persons on the ground under its route. Communications systems permit the tram car operators to communicate with the control room. Automatic supervisory and control systems monitor
12600-434: Was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.02. The median age in the city was 35.9 years. 24% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.9% were from 25 to 44; 25.3% were from 45 to 64; and 12.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.8% male and 51.2% female. As of the 2000 census , there were 143,560 people, 56,628 households, and 36,298 families living in
12720-436: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.06. In the city, 26.7% of the population was under the age of 18, 9.8% was from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males. The median income for
12840-600: Was a key facility, and at one point the US Army Signal Corps operated the largest spruce cut-up plant in the world to provide much-needed wood for airplanes. Vancouver became the end point for two ultra-long flights from Moscow, USSR , over the North Pole. The first of these flights was performed by Valery Chkalov in 1937 on a Tupolev ANT-25 RD airplane. Chkalov was originally scheduled to land at an airstrip on Swan Island in nearby Portland, Oregon , but
12960-585: Was a movement among local artists to form cooperatives and meet with established local gallery owners for a monthly forum known as "Art Conversations". Many of Vancouver's art galleries are located in downtown Vancouver, and in 2014, the City Council formally designated an "Arts District" in the downtown core. The Kiggins Theatre located within the Downtown Vancouver Art District, was built in 1936 by architect Day Hillborn. It
13080-601: Was a proposed crude oil transport hub in the Port of Vancouver USA. It was estimated to produce the equivalent of $ 1.6 billion in employment income during the terminal's construction and for its first 15 years of operation. Vancouver Energy ended its bid to build the hub in February 2018 following Governor Jay Inslee's rejection of the project. In 2017, there were 4,550 employer firms. 2,143 of these firms were shown to be owned by men, and 943 were shown to be owned by women. 556 of
13200-500: Was completed mid-2012. The design competition started out by identifying four firms which would participate in the contest. The competition officially began in January 2003, with firms from New York City , Amsterdam , and Los Angeles / Zürich as finalists. The winner, Angélil / Graham / Pfenninger / Scholl of Los Angeles/Zürich, was announced on March 26, 2003. In November, PATI chose Doppelmayr CTEC to design, fabricate and install
13320-481: Was expected to rise to 5,500 by 2030. Those initial estimates proved to be conservative: the tram attracted one million riders in its first 10 1 ⁄ 2 months of operation, and averaged 10,000 riders per weekday as of 2016. In March 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic , access to the tram was indefinitely limited to employees of OHSU and affiliated institutions served by the tram and to patients. In May 2022,
13440-517: Was fabricated in nearby Vancouver, Washington , and barged in three pieces up the Willamette River . Nearly 1,250 short tons (1,120 long tons ; 1,130 metric tons ) of steel and 450 short tons (400 long tons ; 410 t ) of concrete are in the two platforms and the intermediate tower; the lateral loads on the upper platform range from 500,000 to 800,000 pounds-force (2,200,000 to 3,600,000 newtons ) or 250 to 400 short tons-force (2,200,000 to 3,600,000 newtons ). Each tram car travels on
13560-717: Was in Glynde , which is in Sussex, England. It was built to connect a newly opened clay pit to the local railway station and opened in 1885. There are aerial tramways with double deck cabins. The Vanoise Express cable car carries 200 people in each cabin at a height of 380 m (1,247 ft) over the Ponturin gorge in France. The Shinhotaka Ropeway carries 121 people in each cabin at Mount Hotaka in Japan. The CabriO cable car to
13680-399: Was named for J.P. Kiggins, an entrepreneur and politician who cut a swath through town in the early 20th century, serving as Vancouver's mayor for 15 non-consecutive years between 1908 and 1935. It was renovated and reopened in 2011 as an independent film and community event venue. The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra first formed in the late 1970s. Conducted and directed by Dr. Salvadore Brotons,
13800-429: Was nearly four times the initial estimate, a development that nearly led to the tram's cancellation mid-construction. Operating costs are nearly twice original projections. When the city approved the tram project, it was understood that OHSU would pay for most of it. While the taxpayer share has grown, OHSU paid for 85% of the total cost of the tram though it is operated as public transit facility. The initial budget for
13920-401: Was one of several sources of controversy concerning the project. The tram consists of two stations and a single intermediate tower. Two tram cars operate in a pendular mode on parallel track ropes and are pulled in unison by a haul rope which is driven by an engine at the lower terminal; when one car is at the upper terminal, the other is at the lower terminal, and vice versa. The lower station
14040-473: Was redirected at the last minute to Vancouver's Pearson Airfield. In June 1975, a monument was dedicated commemorating the event near State Highway 14, then moved to the north side of Pearson Field in 1987. Chkalov Drive, in east Vancouver, was named in his honor. Vancouver is located just north of the Columbia River and the Oregon border, just west of where the Columbia River Gorge bisects
14160-577: Was returned to Olympia by a 2–1 ruling of the territorial supreme court, in accordance with Isaac Stevens ' preference and concern that proximity to the border with Oregon might give some of the state's influence away to Oregon. The neighborhood of Sifton was the terminus of an early electric trolley operated by the Northcoast Power Company that also served nearby Orchards from 1910 until 1926. The trolleys made ten stops and ran once per hour, charging 15 cents each way. A mural in
14280-474: Was used. In any case, it would be another 230 years before Germany would get the second cable lift, this newer version equipped with iron wire cable. Tramways are sometimes used in mountainous regions to carry ore from a mine located high on the mountain to an ore mill located at a lower elevation. Ore tramways were common in the early 20th century at the mines in North and South America. One can still be seen in
14400-522: Was very strong, as the Department of the Columbia built and moved to Vancouver Barracks , the military reservation for which stretched from the river to what is currently Fourth Plain Boulevard and was the largest Army base in the region until surpassed by Fort Lewis , 120 miles (190 km) to the north. Built on the old company gardens and skirmish range, Pearson Army Field (later Pearson Field )
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