Portland Streetcar

Portland Streetcar
A streetcar at the Portland State University stop
Overview
Type	Streetcar line
Daily ridership	11,900 (FY 2010 weekday average) [1]
Operation
Opened	July 20, 2001
Owner	City of Portland
Rolling stock	Škoda 10T Inekon Trio United Streetcar
Technical
Line length	3.9 mi (6.3 km)
Track gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Minimum radius	18 m (59 ft)[2]
Electrification	Overhead, 750 V DC
Maximum incline	8.75%

The Portland Streetcar is a streetcar system in Portland, Oregon, that opened in 2001^[3] and serves areas surrounding downtown Portland. It is currently a single line that is almost 4 miles (6.4 km) long and serves some 12,000 daily riders,^[4] but a second line is expected to open in 2012.

As with the heavier-duty MAX Light Rail network which serves the broader Portland metropolitan area, Portland Streetcars are operated and maintained by TriMet personnel. But unlike MAX, the streetcar system is owned by the city of Portland and managed by Portland Streetcar Incorporated, a non-profit public benefit corporation whose board of directors report to the city's Bureau of Transportation.

Like some of Portland's original streetcar lines,^[5] redevelopment has been a major goal of the project.^[6] The Portland Streetcar is the first new streetcar system in the United States since World War II to use modern vehicles.^[7]

History

City of Portland planners first began studying the idea of building a streetcar system in 1990, in response to recommendations in a Central City Plan the council had adopted in 1988.^[8] The proposed network was originally referred to as the Central City Trolley^[9] and was envisioned as using faux-vintage streetcars like those of the Portland Vintage Trolley service.^[9] However, the name was later changed to Central City Streetcar, out of concern by project supporters that the word "trolley" would carry the connotation that the service was only a tourist attraction rather than a form of transportation,^[10] and in 1993 the city decided the line would use modern, low-floor cars instead of vintage ones.^[11] In 1995, the city estimated the cost to build a line from Northwest Portland to PSU as $30 million.^[10]

Service

LED display at a streetcar stop, giving real-time schedule information

Streetcars are scheduled to arrive at 12-minute intervals at most times (14-minute intervals before 10:30 a.m.), with a lower frequency in the evening and on Sundays.^[12] Every stop is fitted with an electronic reader board giving real-time arrival information to waiting passengers, using the NextBus vehicle tracking system.^[13]

As on TriMet's MAX line, the streetcar's fare system is a proof-of-payment (or "honor") system, with occasional random inspections of passengers' fares, which minimizes wait times at stops by allowing boarding to take place simultaneously through all vehicle doorways. Streetcar operators do not collect or monitor fares. Although the line is not part of the TriMet system, the city adopted TriMet's fares for the streetcar,^[3] for simplicity and convenience of transferring passengers. This includes honoring TriMet's Free Rail Zone (formerly known as Fareless Square), which encompasses more than half of the current streetcar route; rides within that area are free at all times.^[14]

Interior of a Portland streetcar, with ticket vending machine

Passengers not already in possession of a valid fare when boarding—unless riding entirely within the Free Rail Zone—are required to purchase tickets from ticket vending machines on board each streetcar. Each vehicle also carries a ticket validator machine, for stamping "unvalidated" TriMet tickets purchased in advance (such as from grocery stores). TriMet and Portland Streetcar have agreed to honor one another's fares, which means that TriMet passes, tickets and bus transfer receipts are accepted on the streetcar, and tickets purchased or validated on a streetcar are valid for travel on TriMet services (bus, MAX or WES) as long as they cover the appropriate fare zones for the trip being made.^[15] To facilitate this, the ticket machines on the streetcars offer both all-zone (three-zone) and two-zone tickets, despite the fact that the streetcar route lies entirely within TriMet's Zone 1. Streetcar tickets are valid for two hours on TriMet services, but TriMet tickets and transfers are valid all-day on the streetcar.^[15]

Comparison with light rail

In contrast with light rail transit systems, vehicles on modern streetcar systems such as the Portland Streetcar are rarely separated from other traffic and are not given traffic-signal priority over other vehicles, except in a few situations to allow the rail cars—which cannot turn as sharply as other most motor vehicles—to make some turns.^[7] In Portland, using this "mixed traffic" operation has reduced the cost of constructing each segment and—by not closing traffic lanes permanently to other traffic, as is typically done with light rail—also minimized disruption to traffic flow, and allowed curbside parking to be retained,^[7][16] but also means slower operating speeds compared to light rail.^[3][16] Additional factors making the Portland Streetcar line less expensive to build per mile than light rail are that use of city streets largely eliminated the need to acquire private property for portions of the right-of-way, as has been necessary for the region's light rail (MAX) lines,^[3] and that the vehicles' smaller size and therefore lighter weight has enabled the use of a "shallower track slab".^[7][17] The latter means that construction of the trackway necessitated excavating to a depth of only 12.2 inches (310 mm) instead of the conventional (for light rail) depth of around 18.3 inches (460 mm), significantly reducing the extent to which previously existing underground utilities had to be relocated to accommodate the trackway.^[7]

Each Portland streetcar is 66 feet (20.12 m) long, whereas Portland's MAX cars are 88 to 95 feet (26.82–28.96 m) long, and streetcars are operated as single cars at all times, never coupled into trains.^[7] The shorter cars keeps station construction expense lower than would be the case for a light-rail station, but the smaller cars do not provide equal carrying capacity as that of a light-rail train; a single articulated Portland streetcar is only about one-third the length of a two-car MAX train.^[17]

Funding

Funding for the streetcar operation comes primarily from TriMet, fares, city parking revenue, and a "Local Improvement District" (special property tax assessed on properties near the line). Fares have been difficult to enforce because much of the line is in the Free Rail Zone.^[14] Another source of funding for the streetcar is sponsorships of vehicles and stops, which in most cases have a minimum duration of one year,^[18] in contrast to the shorter-term advertising found on TriMet buses and MAX. Sponsoring organizations can have their name placed on the side of the vehicle, stop shelter or in the stop announcement, as well as a small advertisement placed inside the vehicle or shelter. Brochures and ticket sales can also be sponsored.

Route

Portland Streetcar[19]

Legend Stop name S Legacy Good Samaritan S NW 22nd at Lovejoy N NW 22nd at Northrup S NW 21st at Lovejoy N NW 21st at Northrup S NW 18th at Lovejoy N NW 18th at Northrup N NW 14th at Northrup S NW 13th at Lovejoy N NW 12th at Northrup N NW 10th at Marshall S NW 11th at Johnson N NW 10th at Johnson S NW 11th at Glisan N NW 10th at Glisan S NW 11th at Everett N NW 10th at Everett S NW 11th at Couch N NW 10th at Couch N SW 10th at Stark S SW 11th at Alder N SW 10th at Alder W MAX Galleria/SW 10th E MAX Blue and Red lines N Central Library S SW 11th at Taylor N Art Museum S SW 11th at Jefferson S SW 11th at Clay N SW 10th at Clay N SW Park at Mill S SW Park at Market N PSU Urban Center S SW 5th at Market S SW 5th at Montgomery SW 3rd at Harrison SW 1st at Harrison SW Harrison Street SW River Pkwy at Moody SW Moody at Gibbs (for PAT) N SW Bond at OHSU Plaza S SW Moody at Gaines N SW Bond at Lane N Lowell at SW Bond Notes: N Northbound stop S Southbound stop

As of July 2010, the streetcar route measures 3.9 miles (6.3 km) end-to-end. Of the 7.8-mile (12.6 km) round-trip length, 5.3 miles (8.5 km) are one-way operation along streets which are mostly also one-way and with the streetcars following parallel streets in opposite directions (the original 4.8-mile or 7.7-kilometre loop plus the most recent extension). The remaining 3.0 miles (4.8 km) of round-trip route length are sections where the streetcar route uses a single street (or private right-of-way) for both directions of travel.

Initial segment

Portland Streetcar started with a 4.8 miles (7.7 km) counterclockwise loop of single track that commenced operations on July 20, 2001, running from the Portland State University (PSU) campus, north through the Pearl District, west to NW 23rd Avenue and then back to PSU on adjacent streets. Most of the $57 million used to build it came from local sources, and only $5 million came from the federal government.^[20]

Extensions towards South Waterfront

The Portland Streetcar passing by the lower station for the Portland Aerial Tram.

On March 11, 2005, a 0.6-mile (1.0 km) extension was placed into service at the line's southern end, from PSU to RiverPlace. This was the first phase of a plan to serve Portland's South Waterfront redevelopment area, including a new outpost of Oregon Health & Science University. This section includes a short length of two-way single-track operation, about 100 yards/91 meters, along Montgomery Street and 4th Avenue. Streetcar-only signals ensure that only one direction is in use at one time. The extension cost $18.1 million, including the purchase of two additional streetcars, with the intent to allow streetcars to run every 10 minutes.^[21]

Another extension of 0.42 mi (0.68 km) south to the lower terminus of the Portland Aerial Tram at SW Gibbs Street, in the South Waterfront District, opened on October 20, 2006. This section differs from the rest of the streetcar system in that the streetcar track runs entirely in its own right-of-way (formerly used by the Willamette Shore Trolley), allowing streetcars to run at higher speeds. Like the short section around 4th and Montgomery, this section is also bi-directional single track, the only other such running on the current system.

On August 17, 2007, the route was extended to SW Lowell and Bond, serving more of the South Waterfront district. This 0.46-mile (0.74 km) extension is a 10-block loop, from SW Moody and Gibbs proceeding south on Moody Avenue, east on Lowell Street and north on Bond Avenue to OHSU Commons at Gibbs, which stop is also directly adjacent to the entrance to the aerial tram.

From the southernmost stop, SW Lowell at Bond, one can transfer to the Willamette Shore Trolley by walking one block south, to Bancroft Street.

Vehicles

A streetcar at the corner of SW 11th and Alder.

The current fleet

The streetcars are a Czech design, and all except the most recent car (number 015) were built in the Czech Republic and shipped to the USA complete. They have a low-floor center section between the trucks and at one door on each side they are equipped with a MAX-like bridge plate—a short ramp that extends from the vehicle doorway—to allow wheelchair access. Compared to MAX cars they are shorter and narrower, a result of having to run in mixed traffic on neighborhood streets, alongside parked automobiles. The cars are lighter than those used by MAX, allowing cheaper, less-intense track construction.^{[citation needed]} Furthermore, couplers on the streetcars are hidden behind bumper skirts and only used to move disabled units back to the yard.^[22] This safety feature protects any hapless motorists who may collide with the end of a streetcar.

As of late May 2009, the fleet includes eleven streetcars, but the last car has only recently been received^[23] and has not yet entered service. They were supplied in four batches between 2001 and 2009, built by any of three different manufacturers. However, they have nearly identical dimensions and are similar in all respects, since the design used for all eleven cars was developed by the same two Czech companies, Škoda and Inekon.

Cars 001 through 005 have been in operation since 2001, while cars 006 and 007 were added in 2002. These seven were built by a now-defunct joint venture between Škoda and Inekon, and are Škoda's 10T model, originally also called Astra 10T. Inekon performed most of the design work, while Škoda carried out the construction, in Plzeň.^[7]

Three additional cars, to be numbered 008-010, were ordered for the expansion of service to South Waterfront. By that time, the partnership between Inekon and Škoda had dissolved in an "ugly divorce", so these cars were constructed in Ostrava, Czech Republic, by a partnership of Inekon and the Ostrava city transit agency, Dopravní Podnik Ostrava.^[24] This partnership was originally named DPO-Inekon, but soon adopted the (English) name "Inekon Trams". Portland cars 008-010 are model 12-Trio (a particular version of Inekon's Trio series of streetcar designs)^[25] and have a high degree of spare parts compatibility with the existing fleet. They arrived in Portland in January 2007, and after a period of street testing, entered service in late May 2007.

U.S.-built streetcar

The latest delivery, on 15 May 2009,^[26] is effectively another Škoda 10T, but built in the United States under license, rather than by Škoda itself.

Under a 2005 federal transportation bill, $4 million was allocated for construction of a U.S.-manufactured streetcar vehicle. Congressman Peter DeFazio indicated that the contract would go to Oregon Iron Works in Clackamas, Oregon, and that Portland would be permitted to keep the prototype vehicle permanently.^[27]

This special federal grant was intended to foster the creation of a domestic manufacturing industry for modern streetcars, which was non-existent at the time. This lack had forced streetcar systems to turn to overseas builders as the only source of the type of railcar needed. The first Portland Streetcar project had not used any federal funds. However, for any future streetcar projects desiring to obtain federal matching funds, among which were the planned future expansion in Portland, the vehicles would need to comply with the minimum 60% U.S. content provisions^[28] of the "Buy America" Act (49 U.S.C. § 5323j).

Portland's newest streetcar, built in Oregon by United Streetcar.

In February 2006, Škoda Transportation established an "exclusive technology transfer agreement" with Oregon Iron Works (OIW) to build streetcars meeting "Buy America" rules, and the two companies jointly prepared a detailed OIW submission when the city Portland (owner of the Portland Streetcar system) issued a request for proposals in mid-2006 to build one new streetcar for the Portland Streetcar. In January 2007, OIW won a contract from Portland to build the prototype streetcar, to the Škoda design, and reported that it had established a new subsidiary, United Streetcar LLC, to perform the work.^[29]

The United Streetcar prototype, number 015 in the Portland Streetcar fleet, was delivered on May 15, 2009,^[26] but has yet to enter service. The new car is model 10T, the same as Škoda-built cars 001-007, but features a slightly modified end design. Although the differences are relatively minor, car 015 is considered to be model variant 10T3, whereas cars 001-005 were 10T0 and cars 006-007 were 10T2.^[30] Car 015, which carries a red, white and blue paint scheme and large "Made in USA" lettering along the sides, was presented to the public in a July 1, 2009 ceremony, at which Secretary Ray LaHood was the featured speaker.^[31]

Car 015's entry into service has been delayed until at least 2011, because of a decision to replace its propulsion-control system, the electronic equipment which controls and coordinates the operation of the car's motors and other key operating components, with equipment made by Rockwell Automation, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.^[32] Although the car was complete and operable in mid-2009, it had yet to undertake the extensive "acceptance testing" needed to certify that it was safe for passenger service and would run reliably. Car 015's propulsion control system was made by Škoda, whereas all 10 earlier Portland streetcars—even the seven cars built by Škoda—had control systems supplied by Elin EBG, an Austrian company (and only installed by Škoda).^[33] Acceptance testing began in late summer 2009, but revealed (unspecified) problems, and Škoda and Portland Streetcar were unable to reach agreement on resolving them.^[33] This issue, together with a desire by PS, United Streetcar and others to increase further the U.S. content of streetcars built by United Streetcar, led to discussions between Rockwell Automation and the various interested parties in Portland on the possibility and feasibility of Rockwell designing a control system for the United Streetcar design.^[33] In April 2010, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) approved a $2.4-million grant, to be matched by $600,000 in local money, to fund the replacement of car 015's control equipment with new equipment to be designed by Rockwell Automation.^[34][35][36] Under FTA rules, the grant is made to TriMet (the region's primary transit agency), but TriMet is only acting as intermediary in this instance, and is passing the funds along to the Portland Streetcar system's owner, the city of Portland, who will administer the contract with Rockwell and the now-amended contract with Oregon Iron Works/United Streetcar. Prototype streetcar 015 was transported back to the OIW factory, in Portland's southeast suburbs, in May 2010 and is projected to return in July 2011, fitted with the Rockwell system and ready for testing.^[32] The change will increase the overall U.S. content of the car from around 70% to around 90%,^[36] and this helped win the support of federal officials to approve the $2.4 million in "research funds" needed to allow project to proceed.^[34]

Meanwhile, the city is also purchasing an additional six streetcars for the eastside expansion currently under construction, and a contract for these was let to United Streetcar in August 2009.^[37] However, in light of Portland's dissatisfaction with the Škoda propulsion control system, the city decided in 2010 to modify the OIW/United Streetcar contract for these six cars, to substitute equipment from Elin for the originally planned Škoda equipment.^[32] Fabrication of those streetcars had yet to begin at the time of that decision, but the change was substantial enough that delivery will be delayed by a few months as a result, and the first car is now targeted for delivery in February 2012.^[38] Those six cars will not be fitted with the Rockwell equipment, because the Rockwell system is only now (in late 2010) being designed; if the city were to wait for it to be completed, installed and thoroughly tested in car 015 before installing it in the six additional cars, doing so would delay the completion of those cars too much, city officials indicated. These cars will be United Streetcar model "100", instead of 10T3.^[38]

Vintage Trolley service

Until late 2005 the fleet also contained two Portland Vintage Trolleys, replicas of 1904 J. G. Brill and Company streetcars owned by TriMet. These two cars (of four such cars owned by TriMet) were transferred to the city of Portland in 2001 for use on the Portland Streetcar line on weekends. They were used on both Saturdays and Sundays, with just one car in service on each day. However, they were not wheelchair-accessible on the streetcar line, and they lacked the satellite-detection equipment necessary for them to be detected by the real-time arrival system (NextBus) informing passengers waiting at stops. When the line was extended to RiverPlace, the Vintage Trolley service continued to terminate at PSU, because of concerns that the steep incline on the new section could damage the cars' motors. These and other issues led to suspension of the Vintage Trolley service in late November 2005.^[39] It never resumed, and eventually the two vintage-style cars were returned to TriMet. (One other Vintage Trolley continues to provide service on a portion of the MAX system seven Sundays per year.)

Compatibility with MAX

Streetcar tracks in Portland are the same gauge as MAX tracks, but of a lighter and shallower construction (the rail bed is only 1 foot or 30.5 centimeters deep), and the two systems share the same overhead line voltage, 750 Vdc. Because of this, it is technically possible for a Portland 10T or 12-Trio streetcar to run on MAX tracks, and indeed originally this was planned to take place if a streetcar needed a particular type of maintenance work that was beyond the capabilities of Portland Streetcar's own "carbarn". A single curve of track at 10th and Morrison connects the two systems.^[7] TriMet's light-rail maintenance shops feature additional equipment, as TriMet's railcar fleet is many times larger, so streetcars were operated along the MAX tracks to the light-rail workshops at Ruby Junction (near the Ruby Jct./E 197th MAX station) for maintenance work on their trucks, a few times. However, because the streetcar has a limited top speed of about 40 mph (64 km/h) ^[40] (compared with 55 mph or 89 km/h for MAX trains) and because of differences in the signalling systems, streetcar movements to the Ruby Junction facility had to take place very late at night, a time when TriMet schedules maintenance on the MAX line. Portland Streetcar managers therefore decided, early on, simply to remove streetcar components needing repair at a TriMet facility and transport them there by road, avoiding the need to schedule time on the MAX line to move a streetcar. Ultimately, as part of the eastside expansion, the necessary equipment is planned to be purchased and installed at the streetcar maintenance shop, eliminating the need to send any streetcar components to Ruby Junction or to Elmonica (another MAX maintenance facility) for repair.

While streetcars can operate on the MAX light rail tracks, a MAX car would be too heavy to operate on the streetcar's tracks, too wide for portions of its right-of-way, and unable to pass through the tighter curves^[2] on the Portland Streetcar system.

Replication by other transit systems

Many organizations from other places have come to tour the system, hoping to replicate it in their hometowns. In 2005, Toronto Transit Commission officials visited Portland to evaluate the Škoda streetcars for possible use on Toronto's streetcar system, as the smaller size is suitable for the city's extensive street-running mixed-traffic operations. The official website for Tucson, Arizona's streetcar system (currently in advanced planning stages), which will connect its downtown area with the nearby University of Arizona campus, features a computer animation video of the Portland Streetcar-style Škoda cars in the livery of Tucson's local public bus system, Sun Tran.^[41]

Eastside (under construction)

The Broadway Bridge, used by the Eastside extension, lifted to allow the USS Bunker Hill to pass through in June 2007.

Utility relocation work in connection with a 3.3-mile (5.3 km) expansion of the streetcar system to the city's inner eastside began in mid-August 2009.^[42][43] The work of laying the streetcar tracks began in early 2010,^[43] with service projected to start in late 2012,^[44] a delay from what was originally an April 2012 date.^[42] The project involved work on the Broadway Bridge that required the bridge's weight to remain constant throughout construction and for work on its lift span to be suspended with 72 hours notice whenever a ship needed to get through.^[42]

In June 2003, the Office of Transportation adopted the Eastside Streetcar Alignment Study, a study for an extension of the streetcar to the Lloyd and Central Eastside Industrial Districts.^[45] In part, the desire for an eastside streetcar arose from the July 2001 report, Lloyd District Development Strategy. Proponents see it as a component of a potential transportation hub in the Lloyd District, bringing together the streetcar, MAX and bus service. Additionally, the new streetcar line will provide a transit connection between the Lloyd and Central Eastside districts that supporters believe is more attractive and permanent than the bus service (TriMet line 6) currently provided and is more likely to spur development in those areas. Existing businesses along the route have also voiced strong support for the project, believing it will bring new customers who otherwise would be more likely to shop in nearby downtown.^[46]

The plans were approved by the Metro (regional government) council in July 2006^[47] and by the Portland city council in September 2007, the council committing to allocating $27 million of city funds.^[48] The estimated total cost of the project is $147 million, just over half of which is to be paid for with federal funds. On April 30, 2009, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced the approval of $75 million in federal funding for the Eastside streetcar project, the full amount that had been requested by Portland.^[49][50] This allocation, secured in large part through the efforts of Oregon Representatives Earl Blumenauer and Peter DeFazio, was both the largest and the final component of the financing plan, and consequently the announcement meant the project could proceed to construction as soon as the city council had approved construction contracts. Twenty million dollars in state funds, $15.5 million from a Local Improvement District and a combination of various other local or regional sources complete the funding plan.^[51] Construction began in August 2009.^[43]

The routing of the Eastside line was finalized in about 2007 and measures about 3.3 miles (5.3 km) in each direction (slightly longer southbound). It leaves the present line at 10th and Lovejoy, runs east across the Willamette River via the Broadway Bridge to the Lloyd District, turns south, passing the Oregon Convention Center, and follows the Grand Avenue and Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard couplet to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), the initial terminus. Within the Lloyd District, the southbound routing will follow 7th Avenue (from Weidler Street to Oregon Street), so as to come closer to the Lloyd Center and the many office towers in the district, but south of the convention center the route will run south along Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and north along Grand Avenue almost all the way to OMSI.^[51]

At that location, the new line is expected to connect with a future MAX line planned to link downtown with Milwaukie by 2015. That project is currently under construction with a new bridge over the Willamette River. The city plans to extend the streetcar from OMSI across the river to the South Waterfront district, connecting with the existing streetcar line there, and thereby creating a large loop in the overall streetcar network. For this reason, the Eastside expansion is often referred to as the "Eastside Loop" or the "Portland Streetcar Loop", but completion of the loop would come about three years after the opening of the Eastside line and is not currently funded. The planned Milwaukie MAX line is a project of TriMet, whereas the streetcar is a City of Portland effort, but TriMet and Metro have already agreed to permit streetcars to share the new bridge with MAX trains, as well as to allow buses, bicycles and pedestrians—but not private motor traffic.^[52][53]

The budget for the Eastside Streetcar project includes the cost of purchasing an additional six vehicles, and in August 2009 the city placed an order with United Streetcar (see Vehicles section, below) for six cars of the same general type as those currently operated.^[37]

Proposed expansions

Lake Oswego

A 6-mile long (9.7 km) southern extension of the Streetcar to Lake Oswego has been proposed.

In 1988, a consortium of several local governments^[54] purchased from Southern Pacific Railroad the 6.2-mile (10.0 km) Jefferson Branch freight rail line, which SP had ceased using in 1983, with the intention of preserving the right-of-way for future passenger rail transit use.^[55] Since 1990,^[56] the rail corridor has been kept in use by the Willamette Shore Trolley heritage streetcar service, a mostly seasonal, excursion-type operation, but local transportation officials remained interested in putting the corridor to use for mass transit in the longer term, and formal discussion increased as the opening of Portland Streetcar's first line neared, in 2001.^[57] A 2004 study by TriMet showed that extending the Portland Streetcar system over this right-of-way could be cost-effective and would be a better choice in this corridor than building a more costly MAX (light rail) line.^[58] In December 2007, the Metro (regional government) council approved undertaking environmental-impact studies for the proposed improvements and comparing the introduction of streetcar transit service with the alternative of "enhanced bus service".^[59][60] The work was delayed by a lack of funding, but got under way in spring 2009 after the interested local jurisdictions reached agreement on financing the study, and at that time was expected to result in the completion of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement in 2010.^[61]

Most of the proposed Streetcar line would follow the Willamette Shore Trolley (WST) right-of-way, extending from the current SW Lowell St. terminus down SW Moody Avenue and proceeding along the WST right-of-way to Lake Oswego, with a terminus near a shopping center at N State St. and North Shore Blvd. The WST alignment would relieve traffic congestion on Oregon Route 43, which parallels it and on some sections has steep hillsides where it would be cost-prohibitive to widen the highway.^{[citation needed]} The route would have 10 or 11 stations along the alignment and would be mostly double-track with two or three single-track segments where the alignment is too narrow to widen. Stops would be at Hamilton Ct., Boundary St., Pendleton St., Carolina St., Nevada St., Sellwood Bridge, Riverwood Rd., Briarwood Rd., 'B' Ave., and the terminus. Up to 400 park-and-ride spaces would be included near the terminus. Alternative routes are also under consideration.^{[citation needed]} The proposal is opposed by some residents living adjacent to the right-of-way.^[62]

Other possible expansions

Expansion of the streetcar system along other corridors is proposed, for the longer term. After a series of public meetings soliciting input on a draft, the city council adopted a "Streetcar System Concept Plan" in September 2009.^[63][64] This long-range plan is only a guide identifying those corridors which may be best-suited for streetcar lines in the future, over a multi-decade time frame, not a firm plan.^[64]

See also

• Portland Transit Mall

References

1. ^ "February 2011 Monthly Performance Report". TriMet. http://www.trimet.org/pdfs/publications/performance-statistics/2011-02.pdf. Retrieved 2011-04-13. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Trackway Infrastructure Guidelines for Light Rail Circulator Systems (April 2007); retrieved 2010-09-07 from APTA's Streetcar Subcommittee website
3. ^ ^{a b c d} Hamilton, Don (July 17, 2001). "51 years later, they're back". Portland Tribune. http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=5063. Retrieved 2009-05-21. 
4. ^ Portland Streetcar, "Streetcar Daily Ridership" (graph)
5. ^ "Portland Trolleys and Streetcars". PdxHistory.com. http://www.pdxhistory.com/html/streetcars.html. Retrieved 2007-01-31. 
6. ^ "Portland Streetcar Development Oriented Transit" (PDF). Portland Streetcar, Inc. http://www.portlandstreetcar.org/pdf/development_200804_report.pdf. Retrieved 2010-08-30. 
7. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} Taplin, M. R. (October 2001). "Return of the (modern) streetcar: Portland leads the way". Tramways & Urban Transit (Hersham, Surrey, UK: Ian Allan Publishing Ltd). ISSN 1460-8324. http://www.lrta.info/articles/art0110.html. Retrieved 2009-02-16. 
8. ^ Foden-Vencil, Kristian (January 31, 1994). "City council rings bell to start work on streetcar line". city edition (The Oregonian). 
9. ^ ^{a b} Carlin Ames, Sarah (October 18, 1990). "City Council goes forward with trolley line". The Oregonian, p. B10.
10. ^ ^{a b} Oliver, Gordon (April 21, 1995). "A number of civic leaders desire Portland return of the streetcar". The Oregonian, p. C11.
11. ^ Light Rail and Modern Tramway, April 1994, p. 108. Ian Allan Publishing.
12. ^ Streetcar Schedule
13. ^ NextBus
14. ^ ^{a b} Murphy, Todd (September 11, 2006). "Streetcar still a free ride for scofflaws". Portland Tribune. http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=115802084328042300. Retrieved 2007-01-31. 
15. ^ ^{a b} "Streetcar fares". Portland Streetcar, Inc. http://www.portlandstreetcar.org/fares.php. Retrieved 2009-05-21. 
16. ^ ^{a b} Wilkins, Van. "Trams return to Portland, Oregon". Urban Transport International magazine, July–August 2001, p. 14. ISSN 1268-2241
17. ^ ^{a b} "Streetcar History". Portland Streetcar, Inc.. http://www.portlandstreetcar.org/history.php. Retrieved 2010-04-17. 
18. ^ "Sponsorship page". Portland Streetcar, Inc.. http://www.portlandstreetcar.org/sponslist.php. Retrieved 2009-05-19. 
19. ^ "Streetcar Arrival Times". Portland Streetcar, Inc.. 2007. http://www.portlandstreetcar.org/arrival.php. Retrieved 2007-08-17. 
20. ^ "Portland Streetcar Capital and Operations Funding" (PDF). Portland Streetcar Inc.. September 8, 2010. http://www.portlandstreetcar.org/pdf/capital_and_operations_detail_20100908.pdf. Retrieved April 23, 2011. 
21. ^ Hamilton, Don (July 13, 2004). "Streetcar keeps rolling south, east". Portland Tribune. http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=25212. Retrieved 2009-02-17. 
22. ^ See [1] for photos of this arrangement.
23. ^ MacKinnon, Mary (May 14, 2009). "Streetcars soon to be made in Oregon". Portland Tribune. http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=124225153770065200. Retrieved 2009-05-19. 
24. ^ "The Streetcar Builders: Inekon, Skoda, Dopravní Podnik Ostrava ... and Oregon Iron Works?". Portland Transport. October 27, 2005. http://portlandtransport.com/archives/2005/10/the_streetcar_b.html. Retrieved 2007-10-21. 
25. ^ "Trio models". Inekon Group. http://www.inekon-systems.com/en/group/inekon-trams/products-and-services/production-of-new-trams/trio.html. Retrieved 2009-05-19. 
26. ^ ^{a b} "Streetcar delivery/unloading video". Portland Transport. May 15, 2009. http://portlandtransport.com/archives/2009/05/streetcar_deliv.html. Retrieved 2009-05-19. 
27. ^ Hamilton, Don (August 5, 2005). "Iron firm forges streetcar desire". Portland Tribune. http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=31153. Retrieved 2009-05-19. 
28. ^ "The Buy American Act and Buy America Provisions". Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Canada. May 22, 2009. http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/sell2usgov-vendreaugouvusa/procurement-marches/buyamerica.aspx?lang=eng. Retrieved 2010-11-07. 
29. ^ "Oregon Iron Works gets contract for streetcar". Portland Business Journal. January 26, 2007. http://portland.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2007/01/22/daily45.html. Retrieved 2009-11-16. 
30. ^ "United Streetcar ... US manufacturer established for new trams". (April 2007). Tramways & Urban Transit, p. 146. Ian Allan Publishing/Light Rail Transit Association (UK)
31. ^ Brugger, Joe (July 1, 2009). "Transportation secretary watches as 'Made in USA' streetcar makes debut". The Oregonian. http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2009/07/transportation_secretary_watch.html. Retrieved 2009-11-22. 
32. ^ ^{a b c} Tramways & Urban Transit magazine, August 2010, p. 313. LRTA Publishing (UK).
33. ^ ^{a b c} "Minutes, Portland Streetcar Citizens Advisory Committee Meeting (January 6, 2010)". Portland Streetcar Inc.. http://www.portlandstreetcar.org/pdf/CAC_Minutes_20100106.pdf. Retrieved November 7, 2010. 
34. ^ ^{a b} "Federal Transit Administration Announces TriMet Will Receive $2.4 Million for Development of U.S.-Made Streetcar Propulsion System" (Press release). Federal Transit Administration. April 16, 2010. http://www.fta.dot.gov/news/news_events_11564.html. Retrieved November 7, 2010. 
35. ^ "Feds give TriMet $2.4M for streetcar". Portland Business Journal. April 16, 2010. http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2010/04/12/daily52.html. Retrieved November 7, 2010. 
36. ^ ^{a b} Carinci, Justin (April 19, 2010). "Grant propels streetcar development". Daily Journal of Commerce (Portland). http://djcoregon.com/news/2010/04/19/new-grant-propels-streetcar-development/. Retrieved November 7, 2010. 
37. ^ ^{a b} Rivera, Dylan (August 14, 2009). "Portland inks $20 million deal for locally made streetcars". The Oregonian. http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/08/portland_inks_20_million_deal.html. Retrieved 2009-11-16. 
38. ^ ^{a b} "United Streetcar gears up for series production". Tramways & Urban Transit magazine, November 2010, p. 406.
39. ^ Tramways & Urban Transit (March 2007), p 108. Ian Allan Publishing/Light Rail Transit Association (UK)
40. ^ Rapid Streetcar: More Affordable Light Rail Transit - Light Rail Now
41. ^ Tucson Modern Streetcar
42. ^ ^{a b c} "Streetcar work almost finished on Broadway Bridge". Daily Journal of Commerce. February 18, 2011. http://djcoregon.com/news/2011/02/18/streetcar-work-almost-finished-on-broadway-bridge/. Retrieved 2011-02-20. 
43. ^ ^{a b c} Foden-Vencil, Kristian (August 10, 2009). "Portland Streetcar Begins Work on Next Extension". Oregon Public Broadcasting. http://news.opb.org/article/5587-street-car-starts-next-extension/. Retrieved 2009-11-24. 
44. ^ "Current Construction Map and Overview: The Portland Streetcar Loop Project". Portland Streetcar, Inc.. http://www.portlandstreetcar.org/constmap.php. Retrieved 2010-11-07. 
45. ^ "Eastside Streetcar Alignment Study". City of Portland Office of Transportation. http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?c=39210. Retrieved 2007-01-31. 
46. ^ McGrain, Maureen (May 19, 2006). "All aboard to eastside, Lake Oswego". Portland Business Journal. http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2006/05/22/story4.html. Retrieved 2009-05-20. 
47. ^ McGrain, Maureen (July 28, 2006). "Metro says yes to expansion for streetcar". Portland Business Journal. http://portland.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2006/07/31/story11.html. Retrieved 2009-05-20. 
48. ^ Mayer, James (September 7, 2007). "Streetcar extension gets green light". The Oregonian, p. D1
49. ^ Pope, Dylan; Rivera (April 30, 2009). "Feds approve $75 million for streetcar expansion". The Oregonian. http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/04/feds_approve_75_million_for_st.html. Retrieved 2009-05-20. 
50. ^ "Feds give $75 million for Oregon streetcar". Portland Business Journal. April 30, 2009. http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/04/27/daily46.html?surround=lfn. Retrieved 2009-05-20. 
51. ^ ^{a b} "Portland Streetcar Loop fact sheet (May 2010)" (PDF). Portland Streetcar, Inc. http://www.portlandstreetcar.org/pdf/loop_fact_sheet_and_map_201005.pdf. Retrieved 2010-08-30. 
52. ^ Larabee, Mark (July 17, 2008). "Portland council approves Willamette bridge, MAX alignment". The Oregonian. http://blog.oregonlive.com/portlandcityhall/2008/07/portland_council_approves_will.html. Retrieved 2009-05-20. 
53. ^ Redden, Jim (April 4, 2009). "Proposed Willamette River bridge goes public". Portland Tribune. http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=123879942431141000. Retrieved 2009-05-20. 
54. ^ "Lake Oswego to Portland transit project: Willamette Shore line right-of-way". Metro. http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=25070. Retrieved 2009-05-21. 
55. ^ Oliver, Gordon (October 27, 1988). "Purchase of Jefferson rail line approved". The Oregonian
56. ^ Furey, John (June 30, 1990). "Vintage trolley links Portland, Lake Oswego". The Oregonian, p. E1
57. ^ Stewart, Bill (June 17, 2001). "Tri-Met has trolley line on to-do list: The agency keeps $500,000 to study Willamette Shore as a possible commuter line". The Sunday Oregonian, p. B1
58. ^ Leeson, Fred (January 30, 2004). "Lake Oswego-Portland line possible". The Oregonian
59. ^ Zheng, Yuxing (December 14, 2007). "Study OK'd for Lake Oswego rail link". The Oregonian
60. ^ "Lake Oswego to Portland transit project: corridor options". Metro. http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=227. Retrieved 2009-05-21. 
61. ^ Van der Voo, Lee (April 2, 2009). "Portland-to-Lake Oswego streetcar plan rolls ahead on fast track". Lake Oswego Review. http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=123862633089555200. Retrieved 2009-04-09. 
62. ^ Hartley, Brandon (August 3, 2005). "A streetcar named quagmire". Willamette Week. http://wweek.com/story.php?story=6569. Retrieved 2009-05-21. 
63. ^ Friesen, Sarah (September 9, 2009). "Portland council adopts guide for streetcar expansion". The Oregonian. http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2009/09/portland_council_adopts_guide.html. Retrieved 2009-11-22. 
64. ^ ^{a b} "Streetcar System Concept Plan". Portland Office of Transportation. September 2009. http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?c=46134&. Retrieved 2009-11-22. 

External links

• Portland Streetcar official website
• Portland Streetcar Loop (project to expand to east side), on website of Metro
• Streetcar at PortlandTransport.com
• Portland Office of Transportation
• United Streetcar, LLC
• Real-time arrivals and live maps from nextbus.com