The First Avenue Streetcar expansion project in Seattle has been ordered to stop by
Mayor Jenny Durkan’s executive order after an independent review that she ordered
revealed that the $150 million project the city was sold on by the city’s Transportation
Department would actually exceed $200 million according to King County Metro. It’s
frustrating news for the Council’s Sustainability and Transportation Committee chair,
Mike O’Brien.
“I need them to be sharing information with me and if there was a breakdown in that
sharing of information that infuriates me and it questions whether I can trust that
department moving forward,” admitted O’Brien.
Now, an independent investigation by Durkan’s office along with City Attorney Pete
Holmes will commence analyzing the project’s management since its inception after noncommunicated increased design expenditures, escalating construction costs, and errors in estimating the full cost of the streetcar vehicles were discovered.
“Frankly there shouldn’t be a lot of unexpected expected on a project like this.,”
elaborated O’Brien. “Its fairly straightforward construction work. Things feel pretty bad
right now and I think the best thing to absolutely do right now is stop.”
The City of Seattle has been working on the project since last year and was expected to
be completed in late 2019 with the car operating by at least 2020. Until the investigation
ends all work except that which was done on earthquake seismically vulnerable water
lines will cease.
