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YouTubethebeenews.com wrote City getting serious about streetcarsBY DAVID F. ASHTON
The Bee, Apr 30, 2008
Although the new track system might take a decade to approve and build, streetcars could one day again be running up and down streets here in Inner Southeast Portland.
The reason for considering new streetcars, Sweeny said, is to set up a strategy to deal with the increased population growth likely over the next 20 years. “We’re expecting the Portland metro area’s population to grow to over one million people by 2025 – a third of that, being absorbed by the City of Portland.
“The Streetcar System Plan has a lot of potential to help organize the future growth of Portland, as Portland grows,†the planner explained. “The city is not going to be growing ‘horizontally’ anymore. The Streetcar System Plan is a way to help organize that growth along transit corridors. This can help take pressure off single-family neighborhoods.
“You might have feelings one way or another about infill policies. What the streetcars would do is help get more residents near higher-quality transit, and reduce greenhouse gases, and so on.â€Â
Only two cities, Portland and Seattle, have modern streetcar systems, he noted.
Columbus Underground Messageboard » General Columbus Discussion » Transit
Portland Streetcar News
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Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Posted 4 years ago # -
johnwirtz
Evanston, IL
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Portland Business Journal wrote
Friday, December 12, 2008
Odds improve for streetcar funding: Obama administration likely to fulfill pledge
Oregon’s key representative for transportation funding issues said Thursday the Barack Obama administration will likely provide funds that could allow construction of Portland’s newest streetcar line to begin next summer.
Rep. Peter DeFazio, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, said Obama’s transition team members will provide the $75 million needed that would allow the $147 million project to get underway. The Bush Administration had committed the money but the funds haven’t been released because of bickering between transportation and budget officials.
“I’ve had pretty strong assurances from the (transition) team that ... we’ll be in very good condition when funding closes,†DeFazio said during Thursday’s Oregon Leadership Summit.
The money would allow production of the streetcars to begin at Oregon Iron Works, the Clackamas company that hopes to market similar vehicles nationwide. The Portland cars would mark the company’s first production line.
The streetcar line would run north and south along Martin Luther King Boulevard and Grand Avenue, accessing downtown via the Broadway Bridge.
“This is great news,†said Rick Gustafson, director of operations for the streetcar project. “We’re on schedule and ready to go, we just needed the construction grant from the local government. Congressman DeFazio’s announcement shows that he’s working diligently on this.â€
Gustafson said a final design could be in place by March. Construction could begin July 1 and take about two years to complete.
The project’s remaining funds will come from local sources.
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/12/08/daily62.html
Posted 3 years ago # -
michaelcoyote
!seabus
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I like the Portland transit recipe..
Put in suburban light rail *then* add streetcars..
Edit: I'd not seen the original article, but i just noticed they're pushing streetcars for inner SE neighborhoods. This could be a good use for streetcars, as there isn't MAX to inner SE Portland and it would be hard to put in as it's pretty built up there. Outer SE is getting MAX via the North-South I-205 extension line...
That said, a SE crosstown MAX line would be awesome.. I have to wonder if there's any initiatives towards that
As for building rail and streetcars in Portland, I say good on them.. I believe this came about as there is a provision to by American, and the MAX car providers (Skoda IIRC) decided to work with a northwestern company in a joint venture.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Brewmaster
Portland, OR
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Some of inner SE could be getting service from the proposed Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail...
With that and the proposed streetcar loop extension, SE and NE should have much better transit access.Get the Flash Video 
Posted 3 years ago # -
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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Sigh...
:(
Good for Portland!
Posted 3 years ago # -
Brewmaster
Portland, OR
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Also...I've seen a few streetcar models out here (about 3-4 feet long) that are spread around town for public outreach. It might be boothworthy material for future events in Columbus if the city gets serious about renewing it's push for streetcars.
Posted 3 years ago # -
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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Somehow I have a feeling that will be waiting for certain, tasty livestock to learn basic aviation before we see anything related to modern transit in this city...
Posted 3 years ago # -
Cyclist
Peach District (State of Mind)
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JohnWirtz wrote
Portland Business Journal wrote
Friday, December 12, 2008
Odds improve for streetcar funding: Obama administration likely to fulfill pledge
Oregon’s key representative for transportation funding issues said Thursday the Barack Obama administration will likely provide funds that could allow construction of Portland’s newest streetcar line to begin next summer.
Rep. Peter DeFazio, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, said Obama’s transition team members will provide the $75 million needed that would allow the $147 million project to get underway. The Bush Administration had committed the money but the funds haven’t been released because of bickering between transportation and budget officials.
“I’ve had pretty strong assurances from the (transition) team that ... we’ll be in very good condition when funding closes,†DeFazio said during Thursday’s Oregon Leadership Summit.
The money would allow production of the streetcars to begin at Oregon Iron Works, the Clackamas company that hopes to market similar vehicles nationwide. The Portland cars would mark the company’s first production line.
The streetcar line would run north and south along Martin Luther King Boulevard and Grand Avenue, accessing downtown via the Broadway Bridge.
“This is great news,†said Rick Gustafson, director of operations for the streetcar project. “We’re on schedule and ready to go, we just needed the construction grant from the local government. Congressman DeFazio’s announcement shows that he’s working diligently on this.â€
Gustafson said a final design could be in place by March. Construction could begin July 1 and take about two years to complete.
The project’s remaining funds will come from local sources.
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/12/08/daily62.html
Oregon Dist 3 Rep of Portland Earl Blumenhuer [sic] is on Obama's short list for Transportation Sect. He is a huge advocate for transit and cycling, being the only member of Congress to bike regularly to the Capitol and his office. His staff applyed for no parking permits. :) I hope he gets it.
Posted 3 years ago # -
michaelcoyote
!seabus
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Brewmaster wrote Some of inner SE could be getting service from the proposed Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail...
Oh man, I totally forgot about that new line. I like how the proposed streetcar line will link the Lloyd center MAX lines and the New Green line.. that's awesome.. I'd kinda' like to see the line swing say 10-15 blocks out Hawthorne and back Belmont/Morrison, but yeah, it's still pretty cool
Posted 3 years ago # -
Brant
Gahanna
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Portland got word yesterday that the Feds will provide $75 million for expansion of our central city streetcar line to the East Side. Doubly good news here because it will provide orders for the new United Streetcar company, a subsidiary of Oregon Iron Works in Portland’s suburbs. The only U.S. streetcar manufacturer, United, is hoping for orders from around the country.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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LaHood really does heart Portland Streetcar
By Joseph Rose, The Oregonian
February 17, 2010
Last summer, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood visited Portland's South Waterfront and praised the city's "visionary streetcar system."
Apparently, it wasn't just another attaboy political speech. Today, President Barack Obama's transportation chief awarded $23.2 million to rebuild Moody Avenue and expand Streetcar service into the city's South Waterfront development.
Among other things, the funding for the "PDX Innovation Quadrant" will raise Southwest Moody Avenue's grade by 14 feet to allow redevelopment of nearby properties on polluted brownfields. The project will allow construction of new residential and commercial buildings without disturbing capped hazardous materials, the U.S. Department of Transportation said.
READ MORE: http://blog.oregonlive.com/commuting/2010/02/lahood_really_does_love_the_po.html
MORE INFO: http://www.pdxinnovation.com/project.html
Posted 2 years ago # -
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Plan to build $458 million streetcar from Portland to Lake Oswego raises questions
Published: Saturday, March 26, 2011
By Brad Schmidt, The Oregonian
Ten years after Portland celebrated the return of streetcars, leaders are ready to promote the biggest, most expensive project yet -- a $458 million extension from South Waterfront to Lake Oswego.
Supporters say the line would spur redevelopment in Portland's Johns Landing neighborhood and Lake Oswego's Foothills District, where developer Homer Williams plans a small version of Pearl District-style housing and retail. The streetcar also would enhance Portland's national reputation for trendsetting transit.
READ MORE: http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/03/lake_oswego_streetcar_project.html
Posted 1 year ago # -
Antonio
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Walker wrote >>
Plan to build $458 million streetcar from Portland to Lake Oswego raises questions
Published: Saturday, March 26, 2011
By Brad Schmidt, The Oregonian
Ten years after Portland celebrated the return of streetcars, leaders are ready to promote the biggest, most expensive project yet -- a $458 million extension from South Waterfront to Lake Oswego.
Supporters say the line would spur redevelopment in Portland's Johns Landing neighborhood and Lake Oswego's Foothills District, where developer Homer Williams plans a small version of Pearl District-style housing and retail. The streetcar also would enhance Portland's national reputation for trendsetting transit.
READ MORE: http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/03/lake_oswego_streetcar_project.htmlIt will never be built, there is so much opposition to it in Lake Oswego it will never happen.
http://www.lakeoswegoreview.com/news/story.php?story_id=130091927990711200
They will not destroy this in the community...
http://oerhs.org/wst/index.htm
And they certainly will not allow streetcars to go in the backyards of multi million dollar homes in Lake Oswego.
http://oerhs.org/wst/photos/WST300_CalsTrestle2.jpg
http://oerhs.org/wst/photos/WST813_JohnsLanding.jpg
Recall efforts of elected officials will kick in very soon, the have done it before and will do it again.
Posted 1 year ago #
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