Portland — Lake Oswego Opts Out

January 2012

A Lake Oswego city councilor switched his vote for an extension of the Portland Streetcar into his city, effectively killing the project. Bill Tierney’s support had given the $208 million project a one vote majority last spring, but that is now reversed.

However, the project may get built in part as Portland City councilors are considering an extension in the direction of Lake Oswego, but stopping at Southwest Nevada Street. Unlike residents along the proposed route in Lake Oswego, residents of this neighborhood are in favor of the project. The firm Shiels Obletz Johnsen, which handles operation and construction of the streetcar will soon issue a report defining the “minimum operable segment” which may support this shortened extension.