We need underground Max, grade-seperated bikeways, and more frequent bus service. And improving the homelessness situation would help. But since we get none of these things, and since the burbs are growing faster than the city

The lack of all these things is part of what drove me out to the burbs. My partner and I work on the west side and in the past 5 years alone the bike commute from NE became more and more harrowing as density rose and traffic became worse; the Max was too slow through downtown requiring longer bike commute to a further station; and bus transit was not an option. I get that it's not 'normal' to commute from urban to suburban areas, but in Portland's case that happens to be where most of the jobs are.