Portland Streetcar, Inc. - Overview

Portland Streetcar is owned and operated by the City of Portland in partnership with TriMet, which contributes a portion of operating funding.

Portland Streetcar is managed by the Portland Office of Transportation, under the direction of the Commissioner-in-charge of Transportation. The City of Portland contracts with Portland Streetcar, Inc. to construct and operate the Streetcar system. Portland Streetcar, Inc. is a private non-profit corporation.

The Streetcar system is staffed by a combination of City of Portland employees, TriMet employees and consulting staff from Portland Streetcar, Inc.

Citizen Advisory Committee

The Commissioner-in-charge of Transportation has appointed a Citizen Advisory Committee to advise the Commissioner, City Council, and Streetcar management on matters involving planning, design and operation of the system.

Planned Extension

The Willamette Shoreline project, which would extend service to Lake Oswego, is in the planning phase. Since this project is seeking Federal funding, the planning efforts are conducted under the auspices of Metro, governed by a steering committee composed of officials from local governments in the areas served by the potential extensions. The project has a Project Advisory Committee composed of citizens and stakeholders in the affected areas.

Streetcar System Concept Plan

The City of Portland developed a City-wide Streetcar System Concept Plan which identifies corridors for consideration for future expansions of the Streetcar system. This planning effort was managed by the Portland Office of Transportation in coordination with both the Metro/TriMet regional High Capacity Transit System Plan and the Portland Plan.

The Streetcar System Concept Plan effort was governed by a System Advisory Committee appointed by the Commissioner-in-charge of Transportation. The Streetcar System Concept Plan was presented to the City Council and adopted on September 9, 2009

Facilities and Staff

The Portland Streetcar maintenance facility, which is located at 1516 NW Northrup (under I-405) houses the staff of Portland Streetcar. Staff includes: 39 Operators, 3 Superintendents and 5 Maintenance Technicians from TriMet, a Manager of Maintenance, 3 Maintenance Supervisors, a Manager of Operations and Safety, 3 Operations Supervisors, 2 Streetcar Officers and 5 Utility Workers from the City of Portland, an Administrative Supervisor, an Acquisition Parts Specialist, and Administrative Assistant and 2 Customer Service Surveyors from Portland Streetcar, Inc.

Completing the staff is a Project Manager from the City and Executive Director, Community Relations Manager, and Community Relations Assistant Manager from Shiels Obletz Johnsen.

Portland Streetcar has a total of ten (10) Skoda and Inekon Streetcars housed at the maintenance facility, as well as a locally-built prototype streetcar from United Streetcar, LLC., a division of Oregon Iron Works.