From Controversy To Icon, Portland's Aerial Tram Turns 10
b'Ten years ago, two silvery orbs began floating 3,000 feet between Marquam Hill and South Waterfront over the roofs and backyards of one of Portland\\u2019s oldest neighborhoods. Millions of rides later, Portland\\u2019s aerial tram can now be seen as one of the city\\u2019s most transformational projects ever, leading to the dramatic waterfront expansion of OHSU and the creation of a new neighborhood, and paving the way to the successful $500-million Knight Challenge that is positioning the university as a global center for cancer research.
The tram\\u2019s elegant towers and cars came courtesy of the city\\u2019s first international design competition since the early \\u201880s and have since grown into a glittering landmark, making it easy to forget that when it was being conceived, it was the center of a brutal political fight.
Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/from-controversy-to-icon-portland-aerial-tram'