The Next Step in Street Cars Comes to D.C.


 

D.C. could form a public-private partnership to accelerate delivering the streetcar system. As a first step, the District Department of Transportation issued a Request for Information last month for responses, regarding a proposed future solicitation to deliver the 22-mile D.C. streetcar system — respondents will also include how they would deliver a non-regional bus system within the District, including the provision of buses and storage and maintenance facilities as required, and operate and maintain the system. The bus component would include the D.C. Circulator and local Metrobus service. The RFI is not a procurement request, but private sector input will help the District develop and plan the streetcar project, which will cost about $1.2 billion to build and equip and another $65 million a year to operate. The city is in preliminary talks with China, but all interested parties have until 2 p.m. on Aug. 28 to share their perspectives and feedback.

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