I don't really see the issue here. If the people of that area are so opposed to light rail to vote this way, then isn't it likely they would be similarly opposed when the light rail got built, meaning it wouldn't be terribly well utilized?
But then, I kinda think light rail is a big, fancy waste of money, myself, even though I ride public transit every work day.
Your choices are build a rail system now and save money or wait till gas prices go up again. I'm pretty sure if people realized how much money they would save traveling on public transportation they would have made a better decision. Rail systems have also been proven to boost the economy of the connected surrounding area. Yay more Jobs!
Now that a Trimet pass costs $100, I don't save much money. Plus I still have to use my car sometimes, so I'm still paying for gas on top of it. Between that and constantly degraded bus service, TriMet needs to watch how much value they're really providing. They have a bit of a "you'll take what we give you and like it" attitude.
It's time to let go of the idea that Portland has a good public transit system. During the time I've lived here (about 8 years), prices have nearly doubled and service has been cut in extent, frequency and duration. Trimet like to blame it all on revenue decreases, yet have done nothing at all to try and change it from a payroll tax onto something more stable. Really, it's just massively incompetent management combined with crippling union contracts. Time to hand transit over to a new agency and start from scratch.
But then, I kinda think light rail is a big, fancy waste of money, myself, even though I ride public transit every work day.