Portland Aerial Tram Gains New Project Manager; Tram Board Adds 5 Additional Members
Sam Adams
Commissioner Sam Adams today announced that Robert Barnard will assume full-time project-management responsibilities for the Portland Aerial Tram. Barnard replaces the outgoing project manager, Don Irwin, a Tri-Met employee who was managing the Portland Tram project part-time until his expertise was again required full-time for Interstate-205 Light Rail and Downtown Transit Mall improvements. In addition, Portland Aerial Transportation, Inc. (PATI) has added 5 new board members to help guide the non-profit board through the remainder of the Portland Tram’s construction.
Commissioner Adams, who was appointed the City’s transportation commissioner July 1, 2005, personally selected Barnard, a manager with the Portland Office of Transportation for more than 13 years. A licensed architect for 20 years, Barnard spent nearly a decade implementing transportation infrastructure improvements in the Lloyd District. He has also worked on major projects such as the Oregon Convention Center and the Eastbank Esplanade.
PATI also has expanded the expertise, size and diversity of its volunteer board. The 5 new members are: Devon Pearce, who works with Electro Scientific Industries and is vice president of the Institute of Internal Auditors; George Passadore, retired CEO of Wells Fargo Bank; Harriett Cormack, a commissioner with the Housing Authority of Portland and PCPA; Marcela Alcantar, a civil engineer with Alcantar & Associates; and Ted Aaland, of Wildish Construction.
“Having a project manager with Rob’s qualifications will ensure responsible management of this challenging and complex project,” said Commissioner Sam Adams. “Don’s attention is now needed on two other projects critical to the City and Tri-Met: I-205 Light Rail and the Downtown Transit Mall. I look forward to working with Rob and our new board members as we make this unique transportation solution a reality.”
Construction of the Portland Tram is well underway at both the upper and lower terminals, with the drilled shaft foundations at the lower station now complete. To date, the project team has achieved cost and time efficiencies at the lower terminal by obtaining permission to drill below portions of the adjacent property owned by Zidell Marine. Meanwhile, grading for the intermediate tower and future pedestrian bridge has begun near Interstate-5. The Portland Aerial Tram is the only urban tram system now under development in the United States and is expected to spur up to $2 billion of new investment in Portland’s South Waterfront.
Commissioner Adams recently announced that the previous $40 million budget for the Portland Tram needed to be increased due to the escalating cost of steel, several unanticipated engineering requirements and the increased cost of labor in a marketplace experiencing a construction boom.
Commissioner Adams is working with South Waterfront stakeholders to develop a financing strategy to fill this budgetary gap. No money from the City’s General Fund has been used, nor will it be used, to pay for the Portland Tram. An announcement concerning the final budget and the responsible parties will be made when the Commissioner’s negotiations are complete.
About Portland Aerial Transportation, Inc.
Portland Aerial Transportation, Inc. is a private non-profit corporation formed by the initiative of private leaders to ensure that the Portland Aerial Tram meets the highest standards of architecture and urban design. The City of Portland has empowered PATI to be the project manager responsible for initiating the design process, including an international design competition, and for seeing the project through to completion. Members of the PATI board include prominent architects, community leaders and stakeholders. For more information about PATI and the Portland Aerial Tram, please visit www.portlandtram.com.
Posted by Sam Adams on December 4, 2005
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