The true cost of the Seattle streetcar's Center City Connector project may be well over $200 million. That's the latest from Mayor Jenny Durkan's office.
Since independent consultant KPMG began its review of the project earlier this year, the mayor's office has uncovered major problems with the downtown connector line. The latest update revealed that cars for the new route are going to be heavier, longer and wider than on the other lines, which means they might not be able to turn corners on the current tracks. Or even fit on the same tracks.
"As a result of uncovering the challenges with the vehicle contract, a series of complex technical and engineering questions have been raised," the mayor's latest e-mailed update on the project said. The same update stressed that "a more detailed engineering review" is needed to understand the project's feasibility.
Once the review of the project's finances are complete, it will be released to the public, Mayor Durkan said. While she hasn't made any decisions about the future of the project, Mayor Durkan paused its development in March to assess the cost.
More information is expected this August.
