Sneak Preview of the New Eastside Streetcar

Portland’s newest streetcar line (and the first on the city’s eastside in more than 50 years) opens in less than a month on September 22, 2012. In anticipation of this substantial expansion to the existing streetcar network, Mayor Sam Adams, along with members of the Portland Streetcar board and Bureau of Transportation, rode on the first passenger-carrying train to traverse the new alignment earlier this month.

The eastside expansion will bring passengers over the Broadway Bridge from NW Lovejoy Street, connecting to the Lloyd District, the Oregon Convention Center, the Central Eastside’s Produce Row, and OMSI. When the new segment opens, streetcar service will be divided into two lines, which will overlap on 10^th and 11^th avenues in NW Portland and downtown. The opening of the eastside line will bring enhanced service to the most heavily used section of the Westside alignment (on 10^th and 11^th between Portland State University and the Pearl District). This section will see trains arriving every 7 minutes, down from the current 12-13 minute wait times. Trains on the eastside, NW 23^rd, and the South Waterfront will arrive every 14 minutes. For a map of the new two-line system, click here.

To watch the video of the first ride, click here.

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