http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/BlogtownPDX/archives/2009/07/07/streetcars-will-each-cost-450000-more-than-portlanders-were-told Comments On: Streetcars Will Each Cost $450,000 More Than Portlanders Were Told by Sarah Mirk en-us Copyright 2009 Portland Mercury. All rights reserved. This RSS file is offered to individuals, Portland Mercury readers, and non-commercial organizations only. Any commercial websites wishing to use this RSS file, please contact Portland Mercury. webmaster@portlandmercury.com (Portland Mercury Webmaster) Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:01 -0800 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:45:00 -0800 Foundation http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss
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.

Posted by Bob R.]]> Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:39:52 -0700 Portland Mercury 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.
Posted by cmiles]]> Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:20:33 -0700 Portland Mercury Posted by Finnegan]]> Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:49:55 -0700 Portland Mercury Posted by Bob R.]]> Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:14:36 -0700 Portland Mercury Posted by joeBoy]]> Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:59:04 -0700 Portland Mercury Posted by Bones]]> Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:04:33 -0700 Portland Mercury Posted by Bones]]> Wed, 08 Jul 2009 09:47:21 -0700 Portland Mercury
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.


Posted by Bob R.]]> Wed, 08 Jul 2009 07:41:10 -0700 Portland Mercury
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.
Posted by Al M]]> Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:24:03 -0700 Portland Mercury
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.
Posted by blownspeakers]]> Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:56:49 -0700 Portland Mercury
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
Posted by Jasun Wurster]]> Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:36:18 -0700 Portland Mercury tH\VF5!V+00HY?jgK7@iA<_(B0Mii*:@e9Iq]]> Posted by ?pqM)mH{5i*7V7wVNiH?tcvUk'j>tH\VF5!V+00HY?jgK7@iA<_(B0Mii*:@e9Iq]]> Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:31:03 -0700 Portland Mercury Posted by ujfoyt]]> Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:45:16 -0700 Portland Mercury 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.
Posted by blownspeakers]]> Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:57:51 -0700 Portland Mercury tH\VF5!V+00HY?jgK7@iA<_(B0Mii*:@e9Iq]]> Posted by ?pqM)mH{5i*7V7wVNiH?tcvUk'j>tH\VF5!V+00HY?jgK7@iA<_(B0Mii*:@e9Iq]]> Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:09:27 -0700 Portland Mercury Posted by Robert Collins]]> Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:01:53 -0700 Portland Mercury Posted by Rusty!]]> Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:27:05 -0700 Portland Mercury
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.
Posted by s.mirk]]> Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:24:10 -0700 Portland Mercury
Where's $20 million from ODOT for a system of bikeways! Kidding. Sadly.
Posted by Jonathan Maus - BikePortland.org]]> Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:09:44 -0700 Portland Mercury Posted by Mizzzzzzz]]> Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:52:15 -0700 Portland Mercury
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.
Posted by Graham]]> Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:46:16 -0700 Portland Mercury Posted by Nap34]]> Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:43:10 -0700 Portland Mercury