SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Civic leaders in Salem have long been frustrated by the flood of commuters from Portland, who drive in for their state government jobs and leave town by 5 p.m., contributing little to the capital city’s culture and commerce.
It turns out, though, that Interstate 5 is a two-way street. Census figures show that more people commute in the opposite direction, from their homes in Salem to jobs in Portland and its suburbs.
The Statesman Journal reports (http://stjr.nl/HE98nO ) that about 31,000 Salem-area residents have their primary job in the Portland area — about 7,000 more than reported the opposite.
Still, nearly one in five Salem workers lives in the Portland area.
Some commuters say the depressed housing market is an obstacle to moving closer to their job.