OHSU Tram: Finished on Revised Timeline, Budget

By Roland Chlapowski

One of the most troubled projects Sam inherited as the new Transportation Commissioner was the OHSU-South Waterfront Tram.

Significantly over budget already, cost overruns followed cost overruns. It was clear that those overseeing the project were not in control of it.

He relieved the original project managers of their duties and placed a new manager at the helm. To get a clearer picture of the true state of the project, he brought in independent auditors. They found that the tram's pricetag was going to rise.

Sam and his new team came in and worked to solve the problem on two parrallel fronts: first, he negotiated new contracts with the companies building the tram so that the risk of future cost overruns was minimized for the city; second, Sam (with the help of the mayor's office) negotiated a package with OHSU and South Waterfront developers that distribute the cost overruns amongst all three groups, so that the city would not fit the whole bill.

Also, in the spirit of transparency, Sam opened up the process to the public, giving them the same information he had, and holding townhalls to both educate and receive public comment.

When all was said and done, the City of Portland was only responsible for 15% of the overall costs, which was in line with the original estimates for public, non-OHSU ridership.

The tram is now getting its final touches, and will be open to the public in the end of January. With the project itself now nearly complete and its costs under control, the Tram will end up being an icon for the city.

The tram, which served as the catalyst for the development of a new neighborhood in an old, vacant, and contaminated industrial site, will ensure that one of the pillars of Portland's economy has the room it needs to grow, and will be something that makes Portland stand out nationally.

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Posted Sun, 12/17/2006 - 7:53pm.

Tram Citizen Advisory Committee

Submitted by Jim Gardner on Mon, 02/12/2007 - 1:05pm.

In Roland's article above, why does "Citizen Advisory Committee" not provide a link to more information? If no such group exists, isn't it a bit misleading to show this as a community partner? Speaking of community partners, the City promised certain neighborhood improvements as mitigation for the tram's negative impacts. Lair Hill, the neighborhood most tram-pacted, has consistently told the City (and Sam) that our top priority among these neighborhood improvements is the long-promised downsizing of Naito Parkway and reconfiguration of Ross Island Bridge ramps currently dissecting our neighborhood. This project, the South Portland Circulation Study, was adopted by City Council in 2001, is in the City's Transportation System Plan, and was supposed to receive part of the federal money which now appears entirely committed for the SoWa pedestrian bridge. We have repeatedly asked to meet with Sam and staff to discuss this project and don't receive even a reply, much less a meeting. This is community partnership?

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