New Orleans — Under Budget

Rail Transit Online, October 2002

The cost of restoring streetcar service to Canal Street is running about $20 million less than expected despite nearly $3 million in additional spending approved by the Regional Transit Authority board on Sept. 18.  The increases include another $2 million for Gannett-Fleming Inc., which has the construction management contract, to reflect new responsibilities for the testing and safety certification of 23 new streetcars, bringing the company’s total charges to $13.45 million.  Boh Bros. Construction Co., which is building the line along Canal Street to the cemeteries and a short branch on North Carrollton Avenue to City Park, had a $724,000 charge approved to pay for raising the elevation of Canal Street to the track base to compensate for underground utilities.  The original budget for the 4.1-mi. (6.6 km) project, which is 80 percent federally funded, was $161 million.  The Canal line, using 24 replica heritage trolleys manufactured in the RTA’s Carrollton shop, is scheduled to open in about a year followed by the City Park spur in the spring of 2004. 

Meanwhile, construction along Carrollton Avenue between Orleans Avenue and Beauregard Circle began Sept. 23.  Boh Bros. plans to complete trackwork before the end of November, minimizing disruption at the entrance to the New Orleans Museum of Art.  Track installation along Carrollton between Canal Street and Orleans Avenue won’t start until December while a large water main located under the future right-of-way is moved.  Work on Canal Street between Baronne and Salcedo streets is nearly 30 percent complete and the segment from Salcedo to City Park Avenue is over 20 percent finished.  Fourteen trolleys are currently under construction, one of which is expected to be completed this month.  Production should reach the rate of one car per month beginning in January.