Digital Marketing Consultant Lauds Portland City Council for Boosting Number of Streetcars

Augusto Beato, Digital Marketing Consultant, that Portland officials have approved a $10 million deal to buy two new streetcars.

"Out of Portland’s aging fleet of 17 streetcars only three are used daily," said Beato. "It will also need a lot of repairs, so buying more streetcars is a necessity."

The city council approved the agreement Wednesday to purchase the streetcars from Pennsylvania-based Brookville Equipment Corp. The city will be entering into an existing agreement between the company and Sound Transit, Seattle’s transit agency.

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 is no longer in the streetcar business.

There's also an option to later buy up to five streetcars from Brookville Equipment Corp. The city is also considering purchasing three used streetcars from another city.

“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.

The additional cars will be needed as Portland considers extending its northwest line 2.4 miles toward Montgomery Park. Bower said the $80 million extension is in preliminary planning stages.

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