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A smart investment in Oregon's future: the Frog Ferry

A smart investment in Oregon's future: the Frog Ferry

Yahoo25-04-2025

A view of the Willamette River in Portland. The Frog Ferry would have up to nine stops for passengers from Oregon City to Vancouver. (Photo by Lynne Terry/Oregon Capital Chronicle)
As Oregon legislators craft this year's transportation package, there's one project that deserves serious attention because it makes good sense. The Frog Ferry is ready to launch, and it's a commonsense transportation alternative.
To be clear, the Frog Ferry wouldn't stop in my rural community in Pendleton, Oregon. But I served as the executive director for the Port of Portland and the director and CEO of the Washington State Ferry System, and I've learned a lot about what it takes to move people and goods efficiently.
I also understand the importance of making smart transportation investments. This isn't about Portland vs. the rest of Oregon — it's about recognizing innovative solutions that work for the whole state. The Frog Ferry has the potential to ease congestion, drive economic activity, and connect our region more efficiently using infrastructure that already exists — our rivers.
Earth Day is this week. As we reflect on how to build a more sustainable future, it's worth asking: what if our waterways could once again become part of the solution? The Willamette River is underutilized as a transportation corridor.
By tapping into it, we're not only addressing our traffic woes, we're taking meaningful steps to reduce carbon emissions, shrink our environmental footprint, and promote a cleaner commute. Ferry service offers a low-emission, high-efficiency way to get people where they need to go — and it helps us meet climate goals without reinventing the wheel.
We've all heard the frustration: the system is strained. Our roads are clogged. Productivity is lost every day in traffic. That's not just an urban inconvenience — it's a statewide drag on our economy. If there's a solution that can relieve pressure on Interstate 5 and Interstate 84, support our workforce, and strengthen regional connections, we owe it to Oregonians to explore it.
The Frog Ferry team has done the groundwork. They've secured federal interest, completed feasibility studies, and built strong public-private partnerships. The vision is clear: a passenger ferry service that connects commuters and tourists to downtown Portland while bypassing the worst traffic choke points. And crucially, this isn't just a local amenity. A functioning ferry system in the Portland metro area reinforces the entire state's economic engine and resilience.
Having led similar initiatives in Washington, I can say with confidence that our neighbors to the north are scratching their heads as to why Oregon hasn't moved forward on such a common-sense idea. Nationally recognized ferry experts are cheering this on — and so should we. We cannot afford to keep doing the same things and expect different results. It's time to embrace forward-thinking solutions like the Frog Ferry.
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Summer ferry schedule about to set sail
Summer ferry schedule about to set sail

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time27-05-2025

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Will the May full moon be visible in Oregon and why is it called the flower moon?
Will the May full moon be visible in Oregon and why is it called the flower moon?

Yahoo

time12-05-2025

  • Yahoo

Will the May full moon be visible in Oregon and why is it called the flower moon?

Oregonians will be able to step outside to catch the monthly full moon, which will remain visible for nights of May 12 and 13. May's full moon, more commonly known as the flower moon, should be a welcome sight for stargazers who were most recently treated to back-to-back meteor showers. Here's everything to know about the full moon, including when to see it and how it got its nickname. A full moon occurs when Earth's celestial neighbor appears as a complete circle in the sky. From Earth, our natural satellite appears to be fully round because the whole side of the moon facing our planet is lit up by the sun's rays, according to Royal Museums Greenwich in East London. A full moon occurs nearly every 30 days as it completes one lunar phase cycle. The May full moon also a micromoon, meaning it will look a bit smaller and dimmer than usual. Micromoons occur when a full moon coincides with the point in its orbit when it's farthest from Earth, known as apogee. Full moon names were an integral ancient method to track the changing months and seasons, and many that are still used today came from Colonial Americans adopting Native American names into their calendars. The Algonquin tribes of what is now the northeastern United States called May's full moon "the flower moon due to the abundant flowers that bloom this time of year," according to the Almanac. Other nicknames for the full moon include the "corn moon" or "corn planting moon." The moon also has been referred to as the "milk moon." The moniker derives from the English and was apparently coined by a monk who claimed May is a month when cows could be milked three times a day, according to NASA. The full flower moon technically reaches its peak illumination at 9:55 a.m. PT on May 12. But it will appear bright and full for two consecutive nights, May 12, and May 13, according to the website TimeAndDate. On May 12, Oregon is predicted to have a 27-92% chance of cloud cover beginning at 11 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. The celestial wonder should be visible from across the U.S., provided clouds don't obscure the view. Spectators are advised to find a spot with unobstructed views of the horizon. Look for the moon rising low in the southeast after sunset on May 12 as it ascends to its highest point in the sky after midnight, according to EarthSky. Moonrise in Oregon on May 12 is at 9:11 p.m., according to Time and Date. The next full moon will be the strawberry moon, which appears on June 11. Contributing: Doyle Rice, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: What to know about the May 2025 flower moon in Oregon

Raise A Glass To Slow Travel: 4 Destinations To Savor Local Culture One Drink At A Time
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Raise A Glass To Slow Travel: 4 Destinations To Savor Local Culture One Drink At A Time

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