Seattle mayor Jenny Durkan has halted the construction of a streetcar expansion project in downtown Seattle. The mayor halted the project to investigate the management of the project.
The costs of the project have continued to rise. After a preliminary review of the project last week, Durkan found the costs had risen once again. At the beginning of the project a few years ago, it was budgeted at $150 million, but then became a $177 million project and is now an estimated $200 million.
“There are too many questions about the true costs of this project and the risks to taxpayers, which is why we must put the brakes on this project,” said Durkan in a statement.
The work on the project will remain stopped until the investigation is complete, according to Mike Fong, senior deputy mayor.
