Portland — Streetcar Loop Needs More Money

Rail Transit Online, October 2011

An additional $10.5 million will be needed to complete the 3.3-mi. (5.3 km) Portland Streetcar Loop Project, which will extend the system from the Pearl District across the existing Broadway Bridge to the eastern half of downtown, then back across the Willamette River on a new transit-pedestrian-bike bridge.

The extra funding is needed to connect the streetcar tracks with those on the new bridge, located at the south end of the streetcar system, which will be shared with light rail vehicles and buses. Construction of the loop is well advanced and should be completed next year but the connection to the new bridge won't be needed until that structure is finished in about four years.

The project will also need another $20 million from the State of Oregon to pay for four new streetcars.