But it'll be "sustainable!"

It is sustaining the long nightmare that is our botched transit system.

This is what the public input has been reduced down to - seat arrangement!
Never mind about the cost, right?

And AC based on actual conditions in Portland! not Huston TX!
Meanwhile the bus riders have to swelter or freeze in 30 year old vehicles while the drivers doze off!
What an expensive useless mess!

Taking the risk (maybe the intention?) of stimulating even more flak, I wonder: Is there any story concerning TriMet, or Metro, or really any local government action, that doesn't bring forth predictable negative cynicism from the usual suspects? Why not deal with the actual substance of the issue - do these changes improve LRT seating, or do they not? Do any of you ride enough to have an informed opinion?

Glass Half Full: Focus on the seating arrangement is a pretty blatant distraction from how much of a waste of money this thing will be.

Come on Anthony. Do you prefer blue seats, or a combination of blue and red seats on the new Light Rail?

Is there any story concerning TriMet, or Metro, or really any local government action, that doesn't bring forth predictable negative cynicism from the usual suspects?

Apparently not.
I believe the comments will continue as long as our livability is being shafted and we are in a financial downward spiral with that agenda most likely continuing.
Maybe you just don't see it.
Why read here if it bothers you?
Are you new here? Some of us remember when our city was "The City of Roses."
As for myself, I look forward to change if it is positive and we aren't being shortchanged.

Over and over TriMet management says they hear us. But only on seat leg room, ability to watch out for threats, air conditioning and such. They didn't listen to us when we said No Milwaukie Light Rail.

Why not deal with the actual substance of the issue - do these changes improve LRT seating, or do they not? Do any of you ride enough to have an informed opinion?

Why not deal with the actual substance of many transit issues? Oh, because TriMet, Metro, and the City of Portland - among others, including much of the local news media - actively seek out to either cover up those issues, wage a misinformation campaign to smear those who bring up those issues, publicly shoot them down (such as at public meetings and hearings), or otherwise gloss over and ignore those issues.

Until they are admitted to and dealt with appropriately, expect ANY TriMet news story to ignite the criticism of issues that TriMet refuses to address...such as operating 23 year old buses even though federal guidelines call for the buses to have a 12 year life span; the repeated cutback of bus maintenance, bus trips and bus service, and the increase in fares claiming "poverty" while TriMet has no problem writing blank checks for rail anything. $165 million to WES, $10 million a year operating expense. $10 million subsidy to the City of Portland Streetcar. Untold millions for Milwaukie MAX. Paying off bonds for the Blue, Red, Yellow and Green Lines. Extra security for the MAX lines. Lost revenue from fare evaders. TriMet's executive office move to downtown into class A leased office space while they tear down perfectly servicable, less expensive, owned real estate in Southeast.

Either you can bring up those issues, or I will. The seating arrangement is nothing more than a diversion tactic. Has TriMet ever sought out the public input for bus seating?

Any diversionary discussion regarding seating arrangement on the PMLR is simply too similar to the expression, "rearranging desk chairs on the Titanic".