TACOMA — Why isn’t the Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension already carrying passengers?
A grand opening for the 2.4-mile, six-station streetcar project is likely to occur in late August, compared to its May 2022 target, at an estimated $283 million, including $65 million in overruns.
Jim Grohs, vice president of subcontractor Liberty Electric, would tell you the 4½-year-long project was postponed by its own red tape.
Liberty took the rare step of emailing elected officials on the 18-member transit board Feb. 1, to seek $7 million to $12 million for lost time and 737 extra work orders. The agency replied, “These issues are to be resolved through the contractual dispute resolution process.”