September 21-27, 2018 COMMUNITY STREETCAR COALITION NEWS CLIPS

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Milwaukee WISN September 27, 2018 LINK: https://bit.ly/2zAUVr7

A big announcement for the Milwaukee streetcar is happening tomorrow, that is according to the streetcar’s twitter account. We saw testing on the tracks at the station near St. Paul. Now they have to drive the streetcars a certain number of miles before passengers can officially ride. 12 news spoke with neighbors who are excited and getting ready to hop on The Hop. “I think it’s something fun and new, so I’m going to use it. Especially for the first year.” “Different areas are so hard to park, so I will definitely make use of the streetcar.” Well the streetcar should be up and running late October or early November. It is finally here. We’ve been talking about this a lot over the past few years or so and now it’s almost time.

El Paso KDBC September 26, 2018 LINK: https://bit.ly/2xGHYKG

The fourth of six new streetcars in now in El Paso and ready to be tested later tonight. You can see it has the same green on green paint as car number 1504. The streetcar will undergo testing later tonight and Thursday morning and during that testing, Stanton and Oregon Streets between Crosby and Montana will be closed. We’re getting closer to when they’re finally going to be ready to go. Santa Ana KABC 7 Sept 25, 2018 LINK: https://bit.ly/2NMbBEs

A simulation showed off the OC Streetcar - the project that's the first of its kind in Orange County. "We're going to be able to have the ability to move people electrically," Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido said. It stretches just over 4 miles and the streetcar will make 10 stops, traveling from the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center along Santa Ana Boulevard and Fourth Street to in Garden Grove. The Orange County Transportation Authority, or OCTA, just awarded the $220 million construction contract to Walsh Construction. "We have a lot of activity of people coming in on Metrolink and from San Diego, from Los Angeles and from the Inland Empire. This will allow people to have that last mile connection from the Santa Ana train station into the employment centers and the civic center," said Darrell E. Johnson, CEO of OCTA. Officials expect about 7,300 daily riders. The OCTA said the cost to ride a streetcar will be about the same as a bus - about $2 per trip. Many people said they'd try it. "Sometimes people that don't even have a car, or their car broke down, if it's going to get you to point B, yeah I would use it," Frankie Cruz said. But other said they'd pass. "It would be kind of busy and packed, so I wouldn't ride it," one woman said. Officials said there will be eight streetcars, with each one holding just over 180 people. But some businesses are concerned about losing parking spots on an already congested Fourth Street. "That's temporary and overall, what we're doing is going to reduce congestion," Pulido said. The project has taken years - with the total cost coming to about $400 million. Officials said 40 percent is paid with local Measure M sales tax. The rest from federal and state funds. Construction is expected to start late this year, with it up and running by 2021. 2 PRINT COVERAGE OCTA awards $220.5-million contract to build county’s first modern streetcar line

LA Times By Ben Brazil September 27, 2018

Orange County Transportation Authority board members recently awarded a $220.5-million contract to a construction firm to build the first modern streetcar in Orange County.

Corona-based Walsh Construction is expected to begin work later this year.

“This is an important milestone that puts us one step closer to breaking ground on the O.C. Streetcar,” said county Supervisor Lisa Bartlett, who chairs the OCTA.

The streetcar will span a 4.1-mile route between the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center and Harbor Boulevard in Garden Grove, stopping at bus stops along the way. Cars will serve the busy downtown area of Santa Ana, which includes county and local government offices and courthouses.

The streetcar will pass neighborhoods and schools, including Nova Academy, George Washington Carver and Lydia Romero Cruz elementary schools, and .

The streetcar is expected to carry more than 7,300 passengers a day. About 40,000 people commute to daily, according to census data.

The idea for the OC Streetcar has been around since 2006. The project arose in the wake of a scrapped proposal for a 9.3-mile, $1 billion light-rail system that would have run through Santa Ana and Costa Mesa to .

The county has sought funding from federal and state sources for the $407-million project.

The Federal Transit Administration is considering a grant agreement that, along with other federal funding, would provide half of the needed funds. The county’s Measure M half-cent sales tax for transportation projects will also help fund the endeavor.

OCTA board members in March approved a $51.5-million contract with Siemens Industries to provide six vehicles and two spare cars for the OC Streetcar system.

Testing and operations are slated to begin in 2021.

LINK: http://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/entertainment/tn-wknd-et-oc-streetcar-20180927- story.html

3 KC Streetcar Authority asks scooter riders to ‘Respect the Rail’ in new safety campaign

KCTV5 News By Abigael Jaymes September 26, 2018

When it comes to riding Bird or Lime scooters, the Kansas City Streetcar Authority is asking riders to 'Respect the Rail.'

The request is part of their newest campaign to promote transit safety while sharing the road.

Just like bicycles, the skinny wheels of the scooters can easily slip into the streetcar’s track groove. And that result could leave someone in danger or hurt.

The organization encourages riders to use bike lanes or another street without tracks to prevent that from happening altogether.

Because both scooters and the streetcar share the road, they also want to make sure people are not riding in front of or directly behind the streetcar.

If a scooter does get stuck, the streetcar authority asks that riders stand to the side of the scooter and lift it up out of the track as quickly as possible.

Kansas City Streetcar Authority Communications Director Donna Mandelbaum says the organization has not had any related incidents reported, yet, but the number of scooters on the roads are increasing and they want to get the word out now to make sure everyone stays safe.

“This is a serious safety issue. Electric scooters are new to Kansas City just like a streetcar is relatively new to Kansas City. We’re all here in this transit world together, and we all want to work together,” Mandelbaum said. “So, it is a vehicle (scooters), so we ask that you really play it safe, and no one gets hurt and we can all work together.”

Along with the safety concerns in the campaign, the streetcar authority wants scooter riders to know that it is perfectly fine to bring a scooter onto the streetcar.

They ask that riders find a space in the middle section where there are less seats.

The organization also asks scooter riders not to leave their temporary rides parked inside streetcar or on its loading platforms.

LINK: https://www.kctv5.com/news/kc-streetcar-authority-asks-scooter-riders-to-respect-the- rail/article_5b1fbd00-c180-11e8-8f47-678bb0f09d5c.html

4 A man mad at TriMet punches , must pay $3,900 in damages

Oregon Live By Aimee Green September 26, 2018

A 38-year-old man who punched the windshield of a Portland Streetcar must pay $3,900 for the cracked glass and undergo a mental health evaluation.

Roger Mitchell Eikenberry was overheard yelling “(expletive) TriMet” while pacing in the middle of the tracks on the Broadway Bridge as a streetcar approached on April 23, according to court papers filed by the prosecution. Eikenberry then walked up to the front of the streetcar and dealt it a powerful blow with his fist.

Eikenberry may not have been aware that although the Portland Streetcar system contracts with TriMet for its operators, the system itself is owned by the city. TriMet is a regional transit system that provides and bus service.

Court records show Eikenberry has a troubled history with TriMet. In the year leading up to the windshield punch, he’d been cited three times for riding TriMet without paying his fare. Each time he was fined $175 and his cases had been referred to a collection agency for failure to pay.

In September 2016, Portland police said he assaulted them after refused to get off a TriMet bus. The case was dismissed months later, for reasons that court records don't make clear.

On April 23, prosecutors think Eikenberry had been using drugs just before he attacked the streetcar.

Earlier that same day, a TriMet supervisor reported seeing Eikenberry kick the glass doors of a parked MAX train, causing more than $2,000 in damage from cracked glass. Eikenberry originally was charged in that case, too, but a judge dismissed the case after a key witness failed to show up to a court hearing.

Tuesday, Eikenberry pleaded no contest to first-degree criminal mischief for the damage he caused to the streetcar.

Multnomah County Circuit Judge Kenneth Walker ordered him to pay for the streetcar glass and said he must be evaluated to see if he needs mental health and drug treatment.

He also was sentenced to three years of probation and to report to the Multnomah County Justice Reinvestment Program, which is designed to connect offenders with drug treatment, housing and other necessities that could help stabilize their lives.

Eikenberry already had spent more than 60 days in jail, leading up to his plea.

LINK: https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2018/09/man_angry_at_trimet_takes_it_o.html

5 Streetcar coalition names executive leaders, board members

Progressive Railroading No Author Listed September 26, 2018

The Community Streetcar Coalition (CSC) recently announced its executive committee and new board members.

Serving as incoming chair is Adelee Le Grand, vice president at Transdev and chief strategic officer at the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority. Le Grand is responsible for finding solutions to address access and mobility challenges facing the New Orleans region, coalition officials said in a press release.

Serving as vice chair will be Sherri McIntyre, who is assistant city manager and director of public works in Kansas City, Missouri. Under her leadership, the city constructed a streetcar system that launched in May 2016.

Ethan Melone has been named the coalition's treasurer. He is a principal project manager and streetcar practice leader at Parsons in Seattle. Prior to joining Parsons, Melone managed the streetcar program for Seattle.

D.J. Baxter will serve as the coalition's immediate past chair. Baxter is a partner and project manager at Shiels Obletz Johnsen Inc. in , where he supports public agency real state and streetcar development projects across the country. From 2007 to 2016, he served as the executive director of the Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City, where he helped lead the city's efforts to develop a modern streetcar line.

Meanwhile, eight new members were named to CSC's board. They are Brian Hawkins, director of business development at Siemens; Kwadwo Atta, division manager, SNC Lavalin; Gerald Francis, president, Keolis; Stan Feinsod, development manager, Transit Systems Engineering Inc.; Terry Nash, associate vice president of rail and transit, HNTB; Andrew Plambeck, public affairs manager, Portland Streetcar Inc.; Jon Schlegel, project development director, Herzog Transit Services; and Gina Thomas, project manager, HDR.

The coalition is made up of more than 70 local governments, transit agencies, architectural and engineering firms, rail-car manufacturers and other private-sector firms that support the advancement of streetcars in the United States.

LINK: https://www.progressiverailroading.com/people/news/Streetcar-coalition-names-executive- leaders-board-members--55709

6 Seattle Mayor’s budget proposal doesn’t include controversial streetcar connector line

KOMO News By Patrick Quinn September 26, 2018

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan did not designate any new taxpayer dollars to the Streetcar Center City Connector Line in her 2019-2020 budget proposal. She announced her 5.9 billion budget proposal on Monday.

Currently, there are two isolated lines in the South Lake Union and Pioneer Square districts.

“Once this is connected, it will start to be used to its fullest," said Mike McQuaid, transportation chair of the South Lake Union Community Council. "Right now it’s not."

The connector line would create one seamless line through the downtown core.

In 2017, crews broke ground on the connector line, but Mayor Durkan halted construction in March after consultants found the project is $55 million over budget.

“We now know we don’t have enough money to deliver what was promised,” said Durkan in an August press conference. “It’s going to cost tens of millions of dollars more to build this than people thought, and it’s going to cost a significant amount to operate it.”

An independent consultant report also challenged if the new cars will be too big for the downtown rails.

According to the City, nearly 5,000 people ride the South Lake Union and First Hill Streetcars daily.

“She’s making a very prudent decision and taking a step back and understanding the cost structure of this,” McQuaid said.

The City is anticipating a $75 million grant from the Federal Transit Authority -- a grant that is earmarked for the connector project.

A city spokesperson told KOMO News the FTA will likely take 12-18 months to make a decision and the City expects an announcement in 2019.

The City hopes to begin operations on the Center City Connector Line in 2022.

LINK: https://komonews.com/news/local/seattle-mayors-budget-proposal-doesnt-include- controversial-streetcar-connector-line

7 $4.5M project to create 40th Street Trolley Portal Gardens Complete

Philadelphia Business Journal By Natalie Kostelni September 25, 2018

After what Matt Bergheiser, president of University City District, described as an eight-year journey, a $4.5 million redevelopment of the 40th Street Trolley Portal in University City is complete. And the result a much better version of its former self.

For decades, the trolley portal at Woodland and Baltimore avenues was a bare concrete stamp despite its location in a residential neighborhood and its status as a busy transit hub. Under the leadership of University City District, stakeholders including SEPTA, neighbors and the city convened to create a new vision for the parcel. Once in place, fundraising ensued.

Now planters, trees, gardens, seating and a new Trolley Car Station restaurant have revived a once desolate spot.

The project took something that was simply utilitarian and, without eliminating or concealing it, created an inviting, social environment that, as Nathan F. Hommel, director of planning and design at UCD said, also shows someone cares. The project incorporated some of the lessons UCD has learned over the years from its other placemaking activities, like the Porch at 30th Street Station.

To that end, different seating areas were incorporated into the space including cafe chairs and tables, tiered boulders and benching. The hope is that by providing multiple areas and a variety of seating, social interaction will be promoted among strangers who might be visiting the gardens. The space is also inviting for young children who can jump from the rocks or play with the tiny pebbles that carpet the main seating area. The gardens are not just meant to be pleasing for those who are coming on and off of a trolley, but also for those who are passing through while remaining on the trolley.

Another lesson was incorporating food, which can draw people in and serve as a unifying factor as well. “Great spaces call for lingering and food can cause people to linger,” Bergheiser said.

Ken Weinstein, of Philly Office Retail and the Trolley Car Diner, recalled standing at the portal on a freezing day for 20 minutes to determine whether bringing a restaurant to the location made sense. Weinstein was convinced to take a chance after watching a constant stream of pedestrian and vehicular traffic move through the immediate area. A new, two-story, 5,000-square-foot building was developed for the restaurant that seats 200 people. It is staffed with 50 employees.

That $2.5 million restaurant project opened early September with a menu that Weinstein described as comfort food with an international flare, a refrigerator case filed with 300 beers and six that are on tap. Two painted murals on the second floor incorporate different historical figures and aspects of the neighborhood.

LINK: https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2018/09/25/40th-street-trolley-portal- gardens-university-city.html

8 Streetcars to run all night along Canal Street, riverfront

NOLA By Beau Evans September 25, 2018

Streetcars running down Canal Street will soon take a turn and run 24-hours a day on the Riverfront line flanking the French Quarter, in a move that New Orleans transit officials say should help ease commutes for late-night service workers.

In a news release Tuesday (Sept. 25), the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority announced it's extending the two streetcar lines that normally end at the foot of Canal Street, to instead take a turn on the Riverfront tracks and end at the French Market. The transit agency also said the Canal streetcars will run 24-hours a day along the Riverfront line from Canal Street to the French Market, replacing the Riverfront streetcars that usually stop service at midnight.

The service changes take effect this Sunday, the RTA's news release says. They will add to existing late-night "owl" bus routes that run to New Orleans East (63-line) and Algiers (100-line).

Additionally, the RTA said the 16-Claiborne bus line will run 24-hours a day starting at the end of this month, matching the 24-hour service the 39-Tulane bus line now running to Causeway Boulevard past Ochsner Medical Center on Jefferson Highway.

"This addition will give riders more ways to access the hospital and will provide a needed 24-hour transit corridor through Uptown," the RTA's news release says.

Downtown workers have butted heads with transit officials in the past over late-night bus routes, saying options were not adequate for hotel and restaurant employees who get off work late at night.

Jared Munster, the RTA's executive director, said in an email Tuesday that the streetcar route tweaks will be "a zero sum cost" due to the temporary suspension of services along the Riverfront line from Canal to Julia Street. Activity on that section of the Riverfront track has been halted amid a renovation of the World Trade Center building into a Four Seasons hotel.

"...the RTA is reallocating those hours and moving them to operate the #47 Canal - Cemeteries and #48 Canal - City Park streetcar lines," Munster said.

One of the two Canal streetcar lines runs from Harrah's Casino up to the new transfer station at City Park Avenue and Canal Boulevard, near Greenwood Cemetery. The other line branches off at Canal and South Carrollton Avenue and ends at the entrance to City Park. RTA's website says the Canal-Cemeteries line runs roughly from 6 a.m. to midnight, while the Canal-City Park line runs 24-hours daily.

LINK: https://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/09/all_night_streetcar_french_qua.html

9 Orange County Transit picks Walsh to build streetcar

Progressive Railroading No Author Listed September 25, 2018

The Orange County Transportation Authority's (OCTA) board yesterday awarded a $220.5 million contract to Walsh Construction Co. to build the 4.1-mile OC Streetcar system.

The streetcar will operate between Metrolink's commuter-rail service at the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center and Harbor Boulevard in Garden Grove, . The streetcar also will connect with several of the county's busiest bus routes along the way, OCTA officials said in a news release.

Four construction firms that met pre-qualification requirements bid on the contract. Choosing the construction contractor brings OCTA one step closer to breaking ground on the project, said Chairwoman Lisa Bartlett.

The project's cost is estimated at $407 million, with funding coming from federal and state sources and from Measure M, which is Orange County's half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements.

The Federal Transit Administration is considering a full funding grant agreement that would cover about half of the project's cost.

Since OCTA met all federal guidelines during the project's development, FTA officials gave the agency "pre-award authority" to move forward with the purchase of vehicles and the construction contract. In March, OCTA's board approved a $51.5 million contract with Siemens Industries Inc. to provide eight S70 model streetcars for the system.

The streetcar is expected to carry more than 7,300 passengers each day within its first year of operation, according to OCTA.

Construction is slated to begin later this year, with testing and operations starting in 2021.

LINK: https://www.progressiverailroading.com/passenger_rail/news/Orange-County-transit- agency-picks-Walsh-to-build-streetcar--55698

10 Walsh group awarded OC streetcar contract

RT&S Kyra Senese September 25, 2018

Orange County’s first modern streetcar has made a stride forward with the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) board of directors having awarded a $220.5 million contract for the construction of the OC Streetcar to Walsh Construction Co.

“This is an important milestone that puts us one step closer to breaking ground on the OC Streetcar,” said OCTA Chairwoman Lisa Bartlett, who is also the county’s Fifth District Supervisor.

Walsh Construction presented a bid of $220.5 million and was chosen out of four construction firms that met pre-qualification requirements and submitted bids. Officials said the procurement process was organized in accordance with the board’s previously approved procedures for public works projects, which align with federal and state requirements.

The OC Streetcar will run on a 4.1-mile route between commuter rail at the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center and Harbor Boulevard in Garden Grove, Calif., officials said.

“OCTA, in partnership with Santa Ana and Garden Grove, have been planning the OC Streetcar for years and today is a great day as we look forward now to starting construction on an exciting new transportation option in the heart of the county,” said OCTA Director and Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido.

The total OC Streetcar project is estimated to cost $407 million, with funding from a mix of federal and state sources, and from Measure M, Orange County’s half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements, which is also referred to as OC Go.

OCTA said the transportation authority has been collaborating with the Federal Transit Administration throughout the planning and design phases of the project. The FTA is considering a full funding grant agreement that, in addition to other federal funding, would support around half of the project costs.

FTA officials gave OCTA pre-award authority to move forward with the purchase of vehicles and the construction contract because the transportation authority met all federal guidelines during the development of the project, a statement said.

In March, OCTA’s board approved a $51.5 million contract with Siemens Industries to supply vehicles for the OC Streetcar system, which is set to have six vehicles in operation and two spare cars that can be rotated into the system when necessary.

The streetcar will operate from the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center, along Santa Ana Boulevard and Fourth Street and along the right-of-way to Harbor Boulevard.

The route will serve Santa Ana’s downtown area and employment hubs that include county and local government offices and courthouses in the Civic Center. The OC Streetcar route will also

11 connect with many of OCTA’s busiest bus routes and Metrolink and Amtrak’s . The streetcar is expected to transport more than 7,300 daily passengers in its first year of operation.

Construction on the OC Streetcar is set to kick off later this year, with testing and operations beginning in 2021, officials said.

LINK: https://www.rtands.com/passenger/commuter-regional/walsh-group-awarded-oc-streetcar- contract/

12 What’s in Seattle’s $130 million proposal to increase transportation funding?

The Seattle Times By David Gutman September 24, 2018

Seattle would boost its spending on streets, sidewalks and buses by nearly $130 million next year under Mayor Jenny Durkan’s new proposed budget.

That’s more than a 25 percent increase over this year as the city rebuilds its aging roadways and tries to manage increasing traffic congestion.

The two-year budget, released Monday, also projects an additional $70 million in transportation spending for 2020, on top of what is proposed for next year.

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The money would come from a variety of sources. Spending from the Move Seattle property tax levy would increase by more than $30 million in 2019, after the Seattle Department of Transportation spent significant time and energy this year assessing and refining the troubled program.

The city’s commercial parking tax, real-estate excise tax and school-zone traffic cameras have also brought in more money than anticipated, the proposed budget says.

Durkan wants to increase bus service by 100,000 more service hours over the next two years, using car-tab fees and sales taxes approved by voters in 2014. But it is unclear if Metro can increase service as quickly as Durkan is proposing.

Metro hasn’t been able to hire enough bus drivers or increase space at its maintenance bases to provide all the bus service that city voters approved and are paying for.

“We are hopeful that they will,” Durkan said, noting ongoing discussions between the city and Metro about just how much service it can provide. “But that is the amount that we budgeted for.”

Jeff Switzer, a Metro spokesman, said the 100,000 additional hours are also in Metro’s proposed budget.

With some of the unused money, the city is now providing free ORCA transit passes for all Seattle public high-school students, a program that would continue under the new budget.

The budget includes funding for Seattle’s two existing streetcars, in South Lake Union and First Hill, but does not indicate whether Durkan will restart construction on the stalled First Avenue streetcar line. That project, whose anticipated costs have increased by more than $100 million, remains under review with no firm timeline for a decision, the mayor’s office said.

13 But earlier this month the city renewed its application for $75 million in federal funding for the new streetcar, which the city is relying upon, should the project resume.

“We are moving forward as if it’s a go, but we want to continue to assess,” Durkan said. “We want to keep all options open.”

The budget has $1 million to continue studying congestion pricing — broad-based road tolling — in downtown Seattle. That would build on a $200,000 study included in last year’s budget by City Councilmember Mike O’Brien.

That study was originally planned to have results this fall, but the city didn’t hire its consultant until last month.

Durkan, earlier this year, pledged to develop a plan to toll city roadways.

“Congestion pricing can be an effective strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving mobility,” the new budget says, mentioning London, Stockholm and Milan, cities with widespread downtown tolling programs. It says the new funding would go toward assessing pricing tools, tolling technology and potential impacts, both on people and businesses.

Durkan also wants to use technology to make it easier to police existing traffic regulations that often go unenforced.

She announced Monday that the city will lobby the Legislature for a change in state law to allow traffic cameras to ticket drivers in bus-only lanes and for “blocking the box” — when a car gets stuck in the middle of an intersection, blocking traffic from getting through.

LINK: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/whats-in-seattles-130-million- proposal-to-increase-transportation-funding/

14 Fourth streetcar scheduled to arrive in El Paso this week

KFOX 14 By Jessica Gonzalez September 24, 2018

The fourth renovated streetcar is headed to El Paso from Pennsylvania, and it’s expected to arrive Tuesday morning.

Car No. 1514 is the second vintage streetcar to sport the green-on-green paint scheme, just like car No. 1504, which recently arrived in El Paso.

In preparation for the streetcar’s arrival, Father Rahm Avenue will be closed between El Paso Street and Santa Fe Street beginning Monday night.

Once the streetcar is unloaded, it will be transported into the maintenance and storage facility at 601 South Santa Fe Street to be inspected by the CRRMA and .

People are asked to avoid the area if possible and expect delays.

Viewer Robert Rios spotted car No. 1514 in Cisco, Texas, as it was making the 1,800-mile trip to the Sun City.

Testing for this streetcar begins Wednesday at 9 p.m. During this time, Stanton and Oregon streets between Crosby and Montana avenues will be closed. All cross streets will also be closed at Stanton and Oregon streets.

Testing is scheduled to be complete by Thursday at 5 a.m., when all barricades will be removed.

LINK: https://kfoxtv.com/news/local/fourth-streetcar-scheduled-to-arrive-in-el-paso-this-week

15 Inside look: Northwestern Mutual top floor, streetcar facility highlight Doors Open Milwaukee

Milwaukee Business Journal By Rich Kirchen and Sari Lesk September 24, 2018

It was perfect weather in the Milwaukee area this weekend as thousands of residents packed the streets to take part in Doors Open Milwaukee and get a look inside many of the city's most famous buildings, such as top floor of the Northwestern Mutual headquarters and the new streetcar maintenance facility. Check out the attached slideshow to see some of the buildings that were part of the popular event and some of their unique features.

More than 170 buildings in the Milwaukee area were open to the public free of charge as part of the event, which was in its eighth year of operation.

One of the new features added this year was allowing visitors to see the top floor of Northwestern Mutual's $450 million corporate headquarters, which opened in August 2017. People lined up early to get a view from the top of the 32-story building, along checking out the company museum and buying a cup of coffee at the Starbucks located inside the building.

Visitors were also allowed inside the downtown Milwaukee streetcar operations and maintenance facility, 450 N. Fifth St., and were able to check out one of the new streetcars that will begin operating in November.

There were long lines at many of the popular city attractions, such as the 41st floor of the U.S. Bank Building at 777 E. Wisconsin Ave. and the U.S. Courthouse at 517 E. Wisconsin Ave.

Many people checked out the area's hidden gems as well, such as the Frank Lloyd Wright designed-homes on the city's south side, the Grain Exchange Building on East Michigan Street, Bader Philanthropies' renovated offices, 3300 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Carma Laboratories Inc. in Franklin.

LINK: https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2018/09/24/inside-look-northwestern-mutual- top-floor.html

16 Fourth PCC trolley arrives Tuesday, testing continues all week

El Paso Herald Post By Staff Report September 24, 2018

As the El Paso Streetcar Project rolls closer to completion, the second vintage streetcar sporting a green-on-green paint scheme is set for arrival and testing continues along Stanton and Oregon streets requiring closures later this week.

The fourth newly renovated streetcar will complete its 1,800-mile trip from Pennsylvania to El Paso Tuesday morning, according to Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority officials.

Car No. 1514 will bear the same green-on-green paint scheme as Car No. 1504 which recently returned to El Paso.

The truck that is carrying Car No. 1514 is expected to enter Downtown El Paso accompanied by an escort and travel to Father Rahm Avenue where it will be unloaded. To accommodate that operation, Father Rahm Avenue will be closed between El Paso Street and Santa Fe Street beginning Monday, September 24, 2018, the night prior to its arrival.

Once the streetcar has been unloaded, it will be transported into the Maintenance and Storage Facility (MSF) at 601 South Santa Fe Street to be inspected by the CRRMA and Sun Metro.

Motorists, pedestrian and cyclists are encouraged to avoid the area if possible. Use extreme caution and expect delays if travel in the area cannot be avoided. Members of the public will not be able to access the streetcar at this time.

Contractors working for the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority will close Stanton and Oregon streets between Crosby and Montana avenues beginning at approximately 9 p.m. Wednesday, September 26, 2018. All cross streets will be closed at Stanton and Oregon streets, as well.

Testing is scheduled to be complete and all barricades are scheduled to be removed by 5 a.m. Thursday, September 27, 2018.

The testing process will repeat along the same route at 9 p.m. Thursday, September 27, 2018, and reopen by 5 a.m. Friday, September 28, 2018.

For more information on testing, please contact the CRRMA Streetcar Project at (844) 252-RAIL. For more information on streetcar service, please contact Sun Metro at (915) 212-3333

LINK: https://elpasoheraldpost.com/forth-pcc-trolley-to-arrive-tuesday-testing-continues-all-week/

17 OCTA awards $220.5 million contract to build OC streetcar; construction expected to start this year

The By Alicia Robertson September 24, 2018

The first modern streetcar in Orange County is expected to break ground by the end of the year, after county transit officials on Monday hired a construction firm to build it for $220.5 million.

Orange County Transportation Authority board members voted to award a contract to Walsh Construction, whose bid was the lowest of two that agency officials said met the project requirements.

OCTA spokesman Joel Zlotnik said construction of the 4.15-mile streetcar in Santa Ana and Garden Grove should start in late 2018 and called it “an exciting day” for the transit agency. The streetcar will make 10 stops in each direction and will connect the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center to Harbor Boulevard and Westminster Avenue in Garden Grove.

Before the vote, an attorney for disqualified bidder AECOM – whose bid was $25 million less than Walsh’s – told the board the company would take legal action if it did not win the bid. The attorney, Randy Finch, could not be reached for further comment after the meeting.

Transit officials have seen the OC Streetcar’s overall cost climb from about $300 million last year to $407.76 million this summer, a problem that has plagued similar projects around the country.

A gap of $80 million between an earlier engineer’s estimate and the bid from Walsh raised questions from several board members, but OCTA CEO Darrell Johnson attributed it to labor shortages, increasing costs for materials and other factors beyond the agency’s control.

Orange County Supervisor and OCTA board member Todd Spitzer also probed why AECOM’s bid was thrown out and was told an independent analysis backed up staff’s finding that it failed to meet several federal funding requirements, specifically relating to hiring “economically disadvantaged” businesses as subcontractors.

Board member and Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido noted the local cost of the project is about 41 percent, with the rest covered by federal and state funding. He said local governments end up funding about 80 percent of typical transportation projects.

Aside from light rail-type projects in Los Angeles and San Diego, no cities in Orange County or the Inland area can boast a streetcar. Riverside officials considered one a few years ago, but that project appears stalled indefinitely after a preliminary study forecast low ridership and uncertain funding.

LINK: https://www.ocregister.com/2018/09/24/octa-awards-220-5-million-contract-to-build-oc- streetcar-construction-expected-to-start-this-year/

18 Cyclists raise concerns about Milwaukee streetcar

Wisconsin Law Journal By Associated Press September 23, 2018

Milwaukee residents are raising safety concerns about the city’s new streetcar, which will begin running in November.

Several cyclists have filed injury claims with the city of Milwaukee after their tires became wedged in the streetcar’s tracks, WUWM-FM reported. Residents wonder how motor vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians will coexist once the streetcar begins running.

Five streetcars will run along the 2-mile street that connects downtown to the lower east side. McKayla Campbell, who lives near the route, said she’s concerned that more accidents will happen along the route.

“I do have a safety concern with bikes because I know there is already a bike problem in Milwaukee with people getting hit, and I think the trolley will add an extra distraction for drivers,” Campbell said.

Mayor Tom Barrett said it will take time for people to adjust. He said bicyclists should cross the tracks at a 90-degree angle.

Officials are working to inform people of what to do when traveling in the streetcar’s vicinity, said City Engineer Jeff Polenske. Officials are creating signs, have safety tips listed on the streetcar’s website and will use social media to spread information.

“The rules of the road are essentially the same. There are some unique scenarios that not only the streetcar will be encountering to operate within the downtown but also motorists,” Polenske said. “There are some locations where there are exclusive lanes to the streetcar. In those locations, motorists will see some unique signage that will indicate to not follow the streetcar into those lanes.”

LINK: https://wislawjournal.com/2018/09/23/cyclists-raise-concerns-about-milwaukee-streetcar/

19 The Hop, new site during ‘Doors Open’ Milwaukee

CBS 58 By Shirley Descorbeth September 22, 2018

This weekend people are touring more than 170 locations throughout the area as part of ‘Doors Open Milwaukee.’

An added site this year is The Hop streetcar, also its maintenance facility.

People were lining up to get a closer look before its official launch. "It's great, it's clean it's efficient...you see all the cameras so the driver can see all over so its safe," said Derek Schneider.

They're got all-access as part of the event.

"It's the only free event that specifically celebrates Milwaukee's history, architecture and the built environment...and this year we have a block party and the new streetcar, Hop visiting us," said Stacy Swadish, Historic Milwaukee Executive Director.

As the opening day approaches, the anticipation builds.

"We're almost done with testing, testing is processing really, really well...So you can look forward to the streetcar being out on the system running everyday very soon, opening those doors, and being part of the new Milwaukee," said Darryl Simpson, General Manager of Transdev, the company that operates the Hop.

"We really just want people to hop on and just enjoy it and feel free to sit and try your bike out on one of the racks, and just be a part of this. We want people to get acclimated to how the vehicle will operate.”

On Sunday, the Hop's operations and maintenance facility where the streetcars are housed and maintained will be open for tours.

They will begin running sometime soon this fall. According to Transdev staff, the city plans to announce the opening date this coming week. Rides for the first year will be free -- thanks to a sponsorship from Potawatomi Hotel and Casino.

LINK: https://www.cbs58.com/news/the-hop-new-site-during-doors-open-milwaukee

20 BQX director leaves for Canada, streetcar project’s future in limbo

Brooklyn Daily Eagle By Ranaan Geberer September 20, 2018

The man Mayor Bill de Blasio hired to head his BQX Brooklyn-Queens waterfront light rail project will be leaving on Oct. 5 “to pursue a new opportunity in the transit space north of the border.” The departure of Adam Giambrone, who formerly chaired ’s streetcar system, could be interpreted as yet another sign that the $2.7 billion BQX project is in trouble, according to Politico.

Giambrone “didn’t seem to be in the loop on major project decisions,” one source told Politico. The de Blasio administration recently announced that the future of the project was dependent on federal funding, but state and city officials have repeatedly accused the Trump administration of shortchanging New York-based projects. The city Economic Development Corp. will continue to push for the proposed streetcar line, Politico reported.

LINK: http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/2018/9/20/bqx-director-leaves-canada-streetcar- project%E2%80%99s-future-limbo

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