Ron: As demand for close in housing increases, so will rents... no surprise.
JK: Then there is the other half of the equation: SUPPLY. And supply of all housing in the region is reduced by Metro’s artificial shortage of land. That accounts for about ½ of the cost of housing in the region, so it is probably safe to say that 1/3 or MORE of you rent is going to support Metro’s artificial shortage of land.

Ron: So you are going to move back to Beaverton where you have to have a car to get to work so that you don't have to pay the extra 22%? Why not give up your car and save the $100 a month (plus insurance, maintenance, and depreciation) and pay the extra 8%? Seems like a no brainer to me.
JK: No brainer? Only to the planning class. Others realize that cars provide more flexibility than transit ever did or ever will. They also cost less, pollute less, and use less energy. Recent data shows that low income people who acquire a car increase their standard of living because of the car.

Ron: I rarely drive it though.
JK: Of course, to the extent that you use transit, your are using welfare since you only pay 20% of the actual cost - other people pay the remaining 80%.

Thanks
JK