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Downtown/Riverfront Streetcar Project Additional MSF Information (Draft)

December 17, 2013

ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE FACILITY (MSF) INFORMATION

BUILDING SIZE AND FOOTPRINT

Figures 1 and 2 show the conceptual site layouts of the MSF alternatives under consideration. While

these figures do not reflect any specific MSF facility design, they depict credible assumptions for how

structures might be arrayed on the alternative sites. Based on assumptions from the Kansas City

Streetcar Operations and Maintenance Facility Technical Report (July 2012), which is a similarly sized

streetcar system, the streetcar maintenance shop would need to be approximately 18,000 square feet.

It would include the shop, parts storage, and administrative offices. An automatic car wash would be

another 2,500 square feet. The Kansas City project also proposes an enclosure for maintenance of way

parts storage (approximately 5,000 square feet). Finally a traction power substation (TPSS) might be

located at the MSF site. Typically, a TPSS could vary in size from 10’ x 15’ (150 sf) to 15’ x 25’ (375 sf),

with an approximate height of 11’.

Figure 1: Sacramento MSF Alternative


December 17, 2013

Figure 2: West Sacramento Alternative

BUILDING SCALE

Similar to what is being considered for the Downtown/Riverfront Streetcar Project, the Portland

Streetcar System has developed its maintenance facility underneath a highway (I-405). Figure 3 includes

three photographs showing the general scale of the buildings that house Portland’s maintenance

function, as well as accommodations for administrative and maintenance staff. As the photos show, the

main structures are approximately two stories tall and are designed to fit beneath the highway viaduct

and within the viaduct support structures. A similar design strategy would be required at the

Downtown/Riverfront MSF candidate sites.


December 17, 2013

Figure 3: Portland Streetcar Maintenance Facility


December 17, 2013

MATERIALS POTENTIALLY TO BE HANDLED AT MSF

Based on consultation with Sacramento RT, the following materials could be used or stored at the MSF:

Gear oil (used for gearboxes)

Grease (used for lubing mechanical linkages)

Soap concentrate (used in streetcar vehicle car wash)

Rinse agent (used in streetcar vehicle car wash)

Solvent (used to clean/degrease parts)

This list presumes that a vehicle wash would be located at the MSF. If this were to prove problematic, it

might be possible to use the wash facility at RT’s main maintenance facility. This would, however,

increase operational costs and add non-revenue miles.

The use of the MSF site would have to be managed carefully to avoid potentially hazardous activities.

Similar to what is envisioned for the Downtown/Riverfront Project, the maintenance facility for the

Portland Streetcar System is located underneath a freeway on land that is leased from the State DOT

(Oregon Department of Transportation or ODOT). As would be expected with Caltrans, the ODOT lease

for the property includes clear provisions regarding the storage or handling of potentially hazardous

materials on the site. Following is an excerpt from that lease.

Lessee shall not: (a) install facilities for or operate on premises a gasoline supply station or

gasoline pump; (b) allow vehicles used or designed for the transportation of, or bulk amounts of,

gasoline, petroleum products or explosives on premises; (c) store bulk gasoline, petroleum

products or explosives on premises. Except with the prior written approval of State, which

approval may be withheld at the State's sole discretion, Lessee shall not cause, permit or suffer

any "Hazardous Material” (defined below) to be brought upon, treated, kept, stored, disposed of,

discharged, released, produced, manufactured, generated or used upon, about, or underneath

the premises or any portion thereof by Lessee, its agents, employees, contractors, or invitees, or

any other person. Any request for written consent by State shall be in writing and shall

demonstrate to the satisfaction of State that the Hazardous Material is necessary to the business

of Lessee, and will be stored, used and disposed of in a manner that complies with all federal,

state or local laws, statutes, rules, regulations, ordinances, orders, permits or licenses applicable

to the Hazardous Material. Any such approved use of Hazardous Materials shall continue during

the term of this lease to comply with all federal, state, and local laws, statutes, rules, regulations,

ordinances, orders, permits or licenses applicable to Hazardous Material. "Hazardous Material" is

defined for purposes of this lease as any substance; (i) the presence of which requires

investigation or remediation under any federal, state or local statute, regulation, ordinance,

order, action, policy or common law; or (ii) which is or becomes defined as a "hazardous waste,"

"hazardous substance," pollutant or contaminant under any federal, state or local statute,

regulation, rule or ordinance or amendments thereto including, without limitation, the

Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (42 USC 9601 et seq.)

and/or the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 USC 6901 et seq.); or (iii) which is toxic,

explosive, corrosive, flammable, infectious, radioactive, carcinogenic, mutagenic, or otherwise

Figure 4: Portland Streetcar MSF


December 17, 2013

hazardous and is or becomes regulated by any governmental authority, agency, department,

commission, board, or instrumentality of the United States, the State of Oregon, or any political

subdivision thereof. 1

These provisions have the dual benefit of reducing risk for ODOT and the operation of I-405 and

minimizing exposure for nearby businesses and residents. As noted earlier in this memo under “MSF

Functions,” it is anticipated that the Downtown/Riverfront Streetcar facility would be used primarily for

light-duty activities, with heavy-duty activities taking place either at the RT Maintenance Facility. Thus,

the likelihood of environmentally risky activities occurring on the MSF site would be minimized. Note

that this would be the case for either site under consideration, so there is no distinction between the

two sites with respect to the presence of potentially hazardous activities.

1 Lease between Oregon Department of Transportation and City of Portland for Central City Streetcar Project.

December 1, 1999. Lease revised in 2009 and 2010 to accommodate system expansion.

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