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Portland is falling behind its East Coast counterparts when it comes to innovations in multimodal transportation, according to Urban Land Institute fellow Gabe Klein.

Klein, former transportation chief for the cities of Chicago and Washington, D.C., spoke in Portland last week at a presentation on multimodal innovation and sustainable design. The event at the Multnomah Athletic Club was hosted by the Pacific Northwest chapter of the Urban Land Institute, a nonprofit research and education association for real estate and land use planning professionals.

Klein praised Portland’s pioneering investments in light rail and streetcars when much of the country’s transportation planners were still focused on car-centric infrastructure. As technology shifts rapidly, however, city officials could do more to embrace transportation innovations, such as mobile ride-sharing apps, he said. Klein also wondered why Portland doesn’t have a bike-sharing program.

鈥淚t’s an intimidating crowd,鈥� he told presentation attendees. 鈥淵ou guys have done some amazing stuff. Then you’ll see some things on the East Coast, and I think the East Coast has actually been leading the country.鈥�

Klein has spoken around the country as part of a six-month ULI fellowship. He said cities are reaching a key turning point in embracing multimodal transportation.

鈥淲e’re rebuilding our country right now,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t’s really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to change our built environment and rectify some of the mistakes we’ve made.鈥�

The biggest driver for reshaping cities is new technology, Klein said. This includes innovations that support communal cars, bikes, office space and housing, he said.

鈥淚 think in the future we’ll actually design houses and vehicles for sharing,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e’re really transitioning to a different type of consumption.鈥�

Bike sharing programs in places like Washington, D.C. and Chicago have had a huge impact on transportation systems, he said. These programs increase ridership across a larger segment of the population by eliminating the up-front investment of purchasing a bicycle. This often leads to cities improving bike lanes and pedestrian crossings, Klein said.

鈥淥ne thing that the mayor of Chicago did was publically declare 鈥榃e prioritize pedestrians,’ 鈥� he said. 鈥淭he movement in the U.S. is to design around people and not around cars.鈥�

Klein predicted that in a few years, cars will drive themselves; they will also be smaller, and fewer people will own them.

鈥淧eople know they’re not as good as a computer driving,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t means the end of parking as we know it. If you’re building a parking garage, just stop.鈥�

Shifting priorities among Generation X and empty-nesters alike to live and work in walkable, bikeable neighborhoods with easy access to mass transportation means public spending on infrastructure that supports private development, Klein said. In Chicago, he found that businesses around bike share stations often did better than others.

鈥淟ook at the increase in spending on retail corridors just by putting in a bike lane,鈥� he said.

When the Chicago Transit Authority reopened its Morgan subway station in 2012, for instance, Google announced plans to locate an office nearby and a new hotel was proposed, Klein said. Emphasizing this positive impact of mass transportation projects is key to gaining community support, he said.

鈥淎 lot of people don’t understand that these are investments,鈥� he said. 鈥淕o out and talk about bike share and streetcars as a driver of economic development.鈥�

Klein’s lecture was followed by a panel discussion on applying what he’d discussed in the Portland-metro region. One of the speakers, Jillian Detweiler, policy director for Portland Mayor Charlie Hales, said she was particularly intrigued by his points about parking. City officials are trying to address parking issues in Old Town Chinatown and Central Eastside neighborhoods, she said.

鈥淭he biggest light bulb that went on for me is the end of parking garages,鈥� Detweiler said. 鈥淚’m now realizing maybe we need to be more forward-thinking about that.鈥�

Klein encouraged Portland officials to consult private developers when reshaping transportation policies and open doors for things like allowing ride-sharing, taxi alternative Uber to operate in city limits.

鈥淲hat’s going to be really important over the next five or 10 years is to allow the private sector to invest in your city,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou can embrace the change and shape it or you can let it happen.鈥�