PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Portland officials have approved a $10 million deal to buy two new streetcars with the option to buy additional vehicles later.
The city council approved the agreement Wednesday to purchase the streetcars from Pennsylvania-based Brookville Equipment Corp., The Oregonian/OregonLive reported .
The city will be entering into an existing agreement between the company and Sound Transit, Seattle’s transit agency.
“Brookville is eager and excited to provide the city of Portland and its growing ridership with American-designed and manufactured Liberty Streetcars that we hope will enhance Portland’s legacy and success with its innovative, proven system,” Rick Graham, the company’s president, said in a statement.
Portland’s current fleet of 17 streetcars is aging and seven are 17 years old, said Dan Bower, executive director of Portland Streetcar Inc. All but three of the cars are used daily.
“We’re anticipating that we’re going to have to do some repairs,” Bower said. “Just to maintain existing service, we need more cars.”
Under the agreement, Portland could buy up to five streetcars from the company. The city is also considering purchasing three used streetcars from another city.
The additional cars will be needed as Portland considers extending its northwest line 2.4 miles (3.8 kilometers) toward Montgomery Park. Bower said the $80 million extension is in preliminary planning stages.
The new streetcars are expected to arrive in 2020. The deal was funded by the city’s transportation agency and $700,000 in parking meter revenue.
Portland last ordered streetcars in 2009. The city purchased six cars in a $20 million deal with United Streetcar, which Bower said is no longer in the streetcar business. The last one arrived in the city in 2014.
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Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com
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