My argument is not really based on a single point comparison to Portland, as you have actually described yourself:

"It's not as simple as just adding one link."

Indeed, it takes planning from the beginning, planning that (as uninformed as I am) seems to not have taken place. So, really, when I describe how much of a paradise Portland is in terms of public transportation, that is only one spoke in what makes the city work so beautifully; although I do object to their lax stance on hobos and some of the general weirdness that abounds. Seattle's system is also being improved, and I bet it is quite glorious as well.

Maybe they started planning things in Anchorage in 2001, but back when the city was truly growing, I doubtthey had an "Anchorage 2000" Plan. It certainly is nice that they have a manifesto nowadays, I should probably check it out so I don't hate too hard on the sprawling suburbia that Anchorage embodies. However, I will concede that, as ignorant as I am (basing my argument off of observation), that the only way I could really defeat your argument is if there was an example of a town that rapidly expanded (like Anchorage), but was more organized - maybe Spokane (practically the same size as Anchorage)? They boomed in the... 70s? Due to logging, I believe? And they seem to have their shit together a bit more than Anchorage. But then again, that place has a much different history and climate than Anchorage (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spokane,_Washington#20th_century), although there was a focus on urban planning/development for a time. And they had a World Fair... huh. They do have an extensive skywalk network, though!