Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan halts streetcar expansion project as costs jump past $200M

[TexasTowelie]

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan has stopped all work on the city’s downtown streetcar expansion and will join with the city attorney to investigate the management of the project.

A preliminary review of the streetcar project, which Durkan requested last week, found that costs have risen once again. What several years ago was a $150 million project became a $177 million project and is now estimated to be more than $200 million.

“There are too many questions about the true costs of this project and the risks to taxpayers, which is why we must put the brakes on this project,” Durkan said in a statement.

The streetcar expansion along First Avenue is now facing a potential shortfall of more than $23 million, according to the mayor’s office.

Read more: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/seattle-mayor-jenny-durkan-halts-streetcar-expansion-project-as-costs-jump-to-200m/

[msongs]

1. one wonders if corporate thieves are at work here. well, not IF... nt

[BBG]

2. More Like SDOT Misunderestimating

Seems to me that the cost of doing just about anything in Seattle is rising faster than national inflation rates. Several recent big projects have/are coming in over budget.