Oregon Public Broadcasting

An Oregon firm has won the contract to build Portland's next generation of streetcars. April Baer reports.

Portland used to buy its streetcars from a firm in the Czech Republic. But vehicles for the next stage of the streetcar loop will be built at the Clackamas and Vancouver operations of United Streetcar.

Chandra Brown, the company's president, says the company already has a contract with the city of Tuscon.

Portland is the company's second big customer.

Chandra Brown "We did compete for it, just like we did for Tuscon. I don't think people realize how many cities are visiting. We've met with three different cities in the last two weeks who've come out to see the Portland system."

Brown says city, state, and federal officials all helped get the cash together for the transit extension.

United Streetcar will receive $20 million to build six new streetcars.

Construction crews are already doing preliminary work on east side streets where the new lines will run.