Shocking!! They sold the plan and then the costs suddenly rose? What a bad break. I'm so sick of getting lied to.

So your complaining about a 13% cost increase in order to produce the cars locally? Really?

You'd rather give $17.4M to the Czech Republic than to give $20M to businesses in Oregon?

And a 13% cost over-run for a public works project isn't even all that high. Try looking at construction projects in places like Boston or Chicago and see how their budgeting worked out for 'em.

I agree. Misplaced complaint. They are creating jobs here - its worth a little extra dough. Considering, the cost of Czech labor is likely less and the price of steel has been rising. There are many budget complaints to be made, this isn't really worthy.

I think, in the cost per vehicle category, bikes still come out on top. ;-).

Where's $20 million from ODOT for a system of bikeways! Kidding. Sadly.

Graham and Mizzzzz,

For me the issue isn't that it costs more to make the cars locally, but that the public presentations included the old pricetag when planners had the new estimates in their hands.

Sarah, are you saying they should of double czeched the numbers?

What do you call a Czecheslovokian woman who has had an abortion? A cancelled Czech!

And the obesity epidemic continues...

OMG!!!!!1!!!
More city officials who lied to the people!!

Quick, call in Jason Wurster!
I mean...if all the lying is the reason for the other recall, then these people need to be removed as well.

It would be interesting to find out how much of the $20 million is given back to the state in the form of taxes.

Don't worry, that is only 225,000 extra rides guys to make up for it.

Hi Blownspeakers,

You can always call Jasun Wurster at 503-799-7919 to talk about holding politicians accountable and to discuss the Recall of Sam Adams.

You don't have to feel shy about giving out my phone number ;)

jasun

So, Jasun...are you saying there will be an immediate call for removal of these officials as well?

You have no problem publicly discussing Adams' recall, yet seem to deflect when it comes to other lying politicians/city officials who people don't seem to care about when they lie about matters that actually effect the city.

The whole streetcar thing is another PORK BARREL project.

What I would really like to know, is how that contract breaks down in the payroll.

Like how much to the executives of the company?

They just lie and lie and lie and all the while line their pockets with our tax money.

What a world.

The streetcar system plan estimates were based primarily on past costs. There is no requirement that future streetcar projects, as proposed by the system plan, use streetcars from Oregon Iron Works (United Streetcar LLC division) -- unless federal funds are involved, there isn't a "buy local" mandate, so more companies could easily bid on streetcar vehicles. There's also no indication, if OIW is successful at building streetcar for multiple cities in the long run, that the prices would be as high as they are for the limited run of five or six.

The Streetcar Loop project you are using for the new cost figures is not actually a part of the streetcar system plan and has a couple of unique features: The first use of federal "small starts" grants for a streetcar project, and the first locally-made modern low-floor streetcars, so it is not surprising that costs are different this go-around.

yep.

the tram is looking down at the street car project and laughing for only being 450k over budget. a cheap date as far as portland politics goes.

14% overage is *peanuts*. The cost associated with this project pays for an Oregon company to get the jump on a market that is going to explode over the next ten years, that is a huge, huge win. When in the future, you look at the long term costs of outfitting Oregon Ironworks to build these things, you're going to find that it was money well spent. They're the first american company to build street cars in like 60 years or something ... at a time when pretty much every major american city is just beginning to seriously consider major streetcar and railway projects.

I wouldn't go so far as to call it an "overage"... the Streetcar System Plan estimate is not even the same project as the Streetcar Loop, and by admission the Streetcar System Plan estimates are merely ballpark figures. Even if they were costs for the same project (they aren't), a preliminary chart shown at an open house is not a project budget. The City Council hasn't even voted on the routes yet, much less on any kind of budget or funding plan. There is no "overage" here.

Just curious - what kind of ridership are they estimating for our $20 million dollar investment from C of P and the over all $148 million a year ?

Why is everyone referring to this as the first US streetcars in 60 years?
Actually, according to the link below Siemens has been making Streetcars in Sacramento for a while now.

Perhaps these sorts of articles should be amended to First US OWNED Streetcar manufacturer?

http://www.spiegel.de/international/busine…

Here is the Sacramento plant.

Last I checked Sacramento was in the US!

http://www.mobility.siemens.com/usa/en/pub…

(no I don't work for Siemens- it's just that this company has ben making and shipping LRVs to US Cities FROM the US for some time now.

Cmiles -

I agree it is rather subjective as to when a "streetcar" becomes an "LRV", and people tend to make the claim using only the word "streetcar" without qualification, but the United Streetcar / Oregon Iron Works vehicle represents the first modern low-floor design (as opposed to a replica) which can operate under the tight turning constraints of what has typically been known as a "streetcar" in this country (whereas most full-size LRVs cannot make these turns). The United Streetcar vehicle is also narrower, and thus able to operate in lanes where other LRV-style designs would be too wide.

It's a definition that requires a few caveats and explanations, but it's not beyond the pale to make the claim.