Across the fence to the left are both Tri-Met’s and the railroad’s tracks and their clean gravel bed, clean because such spaces are typically treated with powerful and effective soil sterilants, sometimes called bare soil herbicides. These kill both pre-existing plants and prevent the germination and establishment of new plants, for periods up to 10 years, depending upon the soil and weather conditions, longer in drier climates, less in wetter. Federal law, through FIFRA, specifically denies their use in landscapes, typically residential, commercial, institutional and Parks, reserving their use to rights-of-way and certain utilities uses. They are as effective on desirable plants as they are on weeds and they are often water soluble, meaning that water can move them through the soil, carrying them potentially into the ground water or to adjacent landscapes. They are a huge labor savings for the railroads as I’ve pointed out in earlier postings.