You can see this video at it's original location (and download it in various sizes) on TriMet's Portland Mall project information site:
http://www.portlandmall.org/video/simulation/index.htm
The I-205/Portland Mall Project commissioned this video some time ago... Newlands and Co. (a local company) did it. They also have one for the I-205 section.
http://www.nc3d.com
http://www.portlandmall.org/video/simulation/index.htm
Being slightly more serious;
I feel sorry for the poor bastard who's going to end up doing the traffic lighting for the area. Anything less then pure brilliance, and downtown is going to be reduced to a permanent state of deadlock.
Flying above it sure beats driving slowly around Portland's shiny tractors, trying to figure out which street is going to be suddenly closed off/missing today.
I don't hear a thing when I play the video.
This video might be more of the reality of the thing, just put some rails under some of these buses.
http://rantingsofatrimetbusdriver.blogspot.com/2008/06/new-transit-mall-model.html
Bike girl -
There will be a bike lane in a couple of blocks where the slope would prevent many cyclists from keeping up with the timing of the lights, but in the majority of the mall the left lane will be a "multi-modal" lane for bikes, autos, delivery trucks, etc.
With traffic signals at every intersection to regulate average speeds, a seasoned cyclist should be able to keep up, but it still won't be for everyone. (And there will be some turning limitations which limit the overall usefulness, for cars and bikes alike, but still a bit better for cyclists than the old mall configuration)
As you can see from my video, you don't need bike lanes, all traffic flows together in one neato system.
Sorta like the old transit mall before they closed it, bikes, peds, all directions, auto/truck/bus traffic. just ride anyway you want.
THATS THE PORTLAND WAY!