advertisement

---

Washington, D.C., Mayor Vincent Gray has established a Streetcar Financing and Governance Task Force to advise him on potential funding sources and forms of governance for the district's emerging streetcar system.

City Administrator Allen Lew will chair the 14-member task force, which will include six public members with expertise in transportation systems design or engineering, public-private development partnerships, project financing and/or economic development, according to a press release from Gray's office.

The task force will be expected to provide detailed annual cost estimates for the construction of each portion of the 22-mile priority segments of the planned 37-mile system and for the system's operation and maintenance; examine potential funding sources and financing options for the system's construction, operation and maintenance; propose construction timelines; examine potential forms of governance for construction and operation; and send written reports of its findings and recommendations to the mayor.

"The district has the most ambitious streetcar plan in the nation. We are the only city talking about putting down 37 miles of track," Gray said in a prepared statement. "I want to make sure we have the best minds working on the important issues of financing and government to ensure the system has a firm foundation."

The task force will sunset on Dec. 31, 2013.