Committee refers CMGC contracting for Montgomery Park streetcar extension to full Council

The Public Works Committee voted to refer Ordinance Document 2026-333 to the full City Council, recommending use of an alternative contracting method (construction manager/general contractor, CMGC) for the Montgomery Park Streetcar extension.

PBOT interim leadership and project staff told the committee the extension will be roughly 1.3 miles into northwest Portland, is in environmental review and is about 30% through design. David Bacchus, PBOT capital project manager, said the CMGC approach lets the contractor join early during design to improve sequencing, constructability and neighborhood mitigation — a key factor for a federally funded project moving through the Federal Transit Administration capital-investment grant process.

"Our construction cost is likely in the 60 to $70 million range," Bacchus said during his presentation. He described the CMGC pre-construction phase as a small portion of the total budget (typically 0.5–1% of construction cost) that funds contractor review and value engineering prior to setting a guaranteed maximum price.

PBOT said the project scored 30 out of 32 on the Oregon statute scoring sheet used to justify alternative delivery. Members asked PBOT about DBE/DBS contracting and TriMet coordination; PBOT said contracting will be coordinated with TriMet while the city holds the CMGC contract.

The committee moved the ordinance to full council by a 4–0 vote with one absent.