It would be more accurate to say the Transit Mall project and all of the rail/tram/trolley construction benefit mass transit.

Those dollars hardly benefit most vehicles, as the majority of commuters are using automobiles, not transit. Much of what passes for "street construction" in Portland (like the couplets) are actually designed to reduce automotive capacity, using the same strategies outlined in the above article on Paris.

If the "Creative Class" has enough talent, their art will find a market. It's the pretenders who rely on mandated government art earmarks to make a living.

Our underinvestment in infrastructure extends beyond the surface streets: publicly owned buildings that are literally unsafe for human occupancy, public parks that have inoperative bathrooms, water and sewer infrastructure that is literally crumbling, not to mention no new bridges in 30 years, all must support an increasing population base with the capacity designed for 30-50 years ago.

It demonstrates an enormous lack of vision to simply "coast" on the infrastructure investments that were made by previous generations, using quick fix band-aid and bailing wire solutions to just get by for another year.

A City that Works wouldn't have built the Eastbank Esplanade without replacing the Sellwood Bridge first. A City that Works wouldn't be "partnering" with OSHU when they could have "partnered" with the County to open a vacant jail.