United Streetcar marks plant investment

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on Tuesday joined members of Oregon’s congressional delegation, along with Portland, Ore. Mayor Sam Adams and others, to promote domestic job growth and American competitiveness at a ceremony marking the most recent investment by Clackamas, Ore.-based United Streetcar, LLC.

The event was co-hosted by the non-profit Apollo Alliance, which claims “$40 billion per year of federal investment in public transit and rail, coupled with the right policies, could create 3.7 million American jobs —600,000 in the manufacturing sector alone – and begin to meet the currently estimated $77 billion that is needed just to bring existing systems up to good repair.”

Said LaHood, “To win the future and ensure America remains economically competitive in a global economy, we must out-innovate and out-build the rest of the world.” LaHood asserted “United Streetcar is already realizing that vision by manufacturing the first modern streetcars in the nation, and building them entirely with American parts, labor and ingenuity.”

During the event, United Streetcar revealed its new 3,100 foot streetcar track for onsite testing and a new 6,400 square-foot environmental testing bay.

“United Streetcar is a perfect example of how good public policy can not only create jobs, but also re-create an entire manufacturing sector. Our story tells exactly how the private sector and the Federal government can partner to grow the economy together,” said company President Chandra Brown.

United Streetcar, a subsidiary of Oregon Iron Works, Inc., is producing six streetcars for Portland and seven for Tucson, Ariz.’s planned streetcar line.