UW professor took a 12-hour journey to Portland. Why he says it was worth it – The Seattle Times

Report on Public Transit Journey from Seattle to Portland: An Analysis of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Integration

This report analyzes a 12-hour journey undertaken via public transportation between Seattle, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. The case study, conducted by University of Washington Professor Simon Sandh, highlights the critical role of integrated public transit systems in achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in connecting urban and rural communities.

Case Study Overview: A Multi-Modal Transit Journey

The journey involved a sequence of eight distinct public buses and trains, demonstrating the potential for inter-agency transit connectivity. This alternative to conventional air or single-vehicle road travel provides a practical example of sustainable transportation.

Journey Itinerary

1. 7:30 a.m.: Link Light Rail to King Street Station
2. 7:55 a.m.: Sounder train to Lakewood Transit Center
3. 9:20 a.m.: Intercity Transit 620 bus to Olympia Transit Center
4. 11:00 a.m.: Lewis County Transit Green bus to Mellen Transit Station, Centralia
5. 1:00 p.m.: Lewis County Transit Purple bus to Three Rivers Mall, Kelso
6. 3:40 p.m.: RiverCities Transit 45 bus to Longview Transit Center
7. 4:30 p.m.: RiverCities Transit 511 bus to 99th Street Transit Center, Vancouver
8. 5:41 p.m.: C-TRAN 105 bus to Southwest Fifth Avenue and Southwest Alder Street, Portland

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Implications

The journey serves as a powerful illustration of how robust public transit infrastructure directly supports the United Nations’ SDGs.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities & SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

The trip underscores the importance of accessible and sustainable transport systems for all (Target 11.2). The network of buses and trains functions as a vital connector between major urban centers and smaller, rural towns like Centralia and Kelso. This creates inclusive, resilient, and sustainable communities by ensuring that residents are not isolated. The use of varied vehicle types, from standard buses to smaller vans, demonstrates adaptive infrastructure (Target 9.1) tailored to community needs, enhancing the efficiency and reach of the transit system.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, SDG 1: No Poverty & SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Observations during the journey revealed a diverse ridership, including construction workers, individuals experiencing homelessness, and others reliant on the service for daily life. This highlights public transit’s role in reducing inequalities (Target 10.2) by providing affordable and reliable access to employment, social services, and economic opportunities. For many, this access is a critical tool for escaping poverty (SDG 1) and securing decent work (Target 8.5), thereby fostering local economic growth.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The connection between public transit and public health (SDG 3) was a key insight. Access to transportation is a fundamental social determinant of health. The ability to reach healthcare facilities, pharmacies, jobs that provide health insurance, and social support networks is essential for well-being. By providing this access, especially in less urbanized areas, public transit systems are an integral component of a holistic public health strategy.

SDG 13: Climate Action

Choosing a multi-leg public transit journey over a single-occupancy vehicle or a short-haul flight represents a significant contribution to climate action (SDG 13). Promoting and expanding such integrated networks encourages a modal shift away from carbon-intensive transportation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to national and global climate goals.

Key Findings and Observations

• Essential Lifeline: Rural and intercity transit systems are not peripheral services but essential lifelines that provide critical connectivity for diverse populations.
• Social Equity: Public transportation is a key enabler of social equity, providing mobility for individuals regardless of income, age, or ability.
• Economic Resilience: The journey revealed unique local economies in smaller towns, which benefit from the connectivity that public transit provides.
• System Reliability: Despite the complexity of coordinating multiple services, the transit systems demonstrated a high degree of timeliness and reliability, fostering passenger trust.

Conclusion

The 12-hour public transit journey from Seattle to Portland is more than an alternative travel method; it is a case study in sustainable development. It demonstrates that investment in integrated, accessible, and reliable public transportation infrastructure is a direct investment in healthier communities, a more equitable society, and a sustainable planet. The experience strongly advocates for the continued support and expansion of such networks as a practical strategy for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article highlights issues related to public transportation, community connectivity, public health, economic activity, and social inclusion, which are connected to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s focus on public transit and its role in connecting communities, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.2: “By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations…”
   • Explanation: The entire article is a case study of using public transport to connect cities and rural towns. The journey from Seattle to Portland via eight public buses and trains demonstrates the existence of these transport systems. The article emphasizes how these “small, rural transit systems serve as the ‘connectors’ for so many communities,” directly aligning with the goal of expanding public transport. The mention of a homeless person using the bus highlights the system’s role in serving vulnerable populations.

2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.8: “Achieve universal health coverage, including… access to quality essential health-care services…”
   • Explanation: The interviewee, a public health professor, explicitly connects public transit to public health. He states, “Public health is not just about physically accessing clinics or care facilities… How are you getting to that job?” This implies that accessible public transit is a crucial determinant of health, especially in “a less urban context,” as it enables people to access jobs, services, and healthcare facilities that they might otherwise be unable to reach.

3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Target 10.2: “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.”
   • Explanation: The article illustrates how public transit serves a diverse cross-section of society, thereby promoting inclusion. The passengers mentioned include “a construction worker who was just coming from their construction job,” a person who was “homeless at the time,” a cyclist, and a musician. This demonstrates that the bus system provides essential mobility for people of various economic statuses, enabling them to access employment, shelters, and other opportunities.

4. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.3: “Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation…”
   • Explanation: The article provides anecdotal evidence of public transit supporting local economies and employment. The construction worker uses the bus to commute from his job. Another passenger is heading to band practice after their shift. Furthermore, the journey allows the traveler to discover local businesses, such as the “vintage thrift stores and comic book, sci-fi, geeky game stores” in the Kelso mall, whose owner was “optimistic about the future of the mall.” This shows how transit connects people to jobs and local economic hubs.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article provides qualitative and anecdotal information that implies several indicators for measuring progress:

1. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Implied Indicator (related to 11.2.1): Proportion of the population with convenient access to public transport.
   • Explanation: The article implies this through its description of the transit system’s functionality and usage. The observation that there were “quite a few people” using the buses and that some were “regulars” suggests that the service is accessible and utilized by the local population. The statement that “The timing of these buses were impeccable” and that passengers were “fully ready, knowing the bus is going to be here at this exact time” points to the convenience and reliability of the service.

2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Implied Indicator: Diversity of public transit users by economic status and lifestyle.
   • Explanation: The article provides a qualitative measure of this indicator by describing the varied passengers. The presence of a homeless person, a construction worker, a cyclist, and a musician on the same bus system indicates that it is an inclusive service, accessible to and used by people from different socio-economic backgrounds.

3. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Implied Indicator: Accessibility of essential services (including employment and healthcare) via public transportation in non-urban areas.
   • Explanation: The public health professor’s commentary suggests that the availability and reach of public transit in “a less urban context” is a key indicator of public health infrastructure. The ability of people to get to jobs and shelters, as described in the article, serves as a proxy for their ability to access other essential health-related services.

Summary of Findings

Source: seattletimes.com