I'll be staying in Portland for the long haul! Now the real headache begins! (Beaverton: insurance)

[fujiyama]

OK, I just got a contracting gig out here in Portland for the 'long term' after the company I'll be at liked my performance. I'm very excited. I've been staying in Beaverton for the last 3 weeks in a hotel and while I don't look forward to paying for rent, it had to begin sooner or later...

So, I work in Swan Island. I don't particularly like the commute from Beaverton. I carpool right now and may end up doing so afterward, but I'd prefer staying closer by with a shorter commute. I would not mind taking public transit. I really appreciate that about this place!

The problem is, I've been to the city only a few times as I've been quite busy with work. Anyone recommend a decent place near Swan Island? Maybe a half hour commute at worst? Beaverton is BORING. I want out though it's cheaper. I'm young and single and the school system doesn't matter. I just want to stay somewhere interesting with bars, cafes, book stores within a train ride...and that's not a rat hole.

[EnricoV]

You might try the NE Alberta area. It's close-by and is an up and coming trendy area with great restaurants, etc. Should be a short bus ride to Swan Island -- actually, I just looked it up, and the #72 bus goes down Alberta and ends up at Swan Island. So it would be an extremely easy commute. But it's not cheap.

[Nell Plotts]

Driving is likely even more expensive.

Assuming that downtown is not in your budget look around Hawthorne, west of 39th would be worthwhile exploring.

[deegers]

So are bus and public transportation expensive in Portland? Why would one say taking the bus isn't cheap? Or did I read your posts wrong...

[hymalaia]

Originally Posted by deegers

So are bus and public transportation expensive in Portland? Why would one say taking the bus isn't cheap? Or did I read your posts wrong...

the bus costs 1.75$ for a two hour ticket at the cheapest. Regardless of distance, so if you only go a couple of stops it's a rip off. On the other hand when you consider parking, wear and tear, rising gas prices, and insurance than it's still probably a lot cheaper than driving. You could buy a monthly pass for 60$ but you need to use the bus everyday for that to make sense. Mind you these prices are "zone 1" which is fairly big and contains almost all of central portland. Zone's 2 and 3 are not much more expensive however.

[EnricoV]

I didn't mean to imply that taking the bus wasn't cheap -- it was housing in the Alberta district I was speaking of.

[Jimrob1]

Trimet seems to make any distance over 2 miles or so a 3 zone ticket so a one way fare is $2.05.