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SCJ Alliance, an engineering consulting firm with an office in Portland and based in Lacey, Wash., announced it has won a contract from the city to provide inspection services for the Portland Aerial Tram.

The Portland Tram and the Roosevelt Island TramwayCQ in New York City, for which SCJ has also done work, are the only two commuter aerial tramways in the U.S. The company also provided engineering for the gondola in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

With its selection as independent ropeway engineer for the Portland Tram, SCJ’s responsibilities include announced and unannounced inspections to ensure the tram is being operated and maintained properly.

Joel Deis, SCJ project manager, said this is the first time his company was awarded the contract and he appreciates the chance to work with the Oregon Health and Science University, which oversees daily operations of the tram. The city owns the tram, but OSHU provided most of the construction costs.

鈥淥SHU dos a great job and they realize how important that equipment is,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey keep spares of everything except the cabins, which is pretty unusual.鈥�

Deis said the five-year contract will require biannual inspections of the entire tramway system.

鈥淲e’ll do an unannounced inspection and then do an announced inspection where we really dig in and look at all the mechanical parts,鈥� Deis said.

In addition to ropeway work, Deis said his company, with 70 employees, also does on engineering for telecommunications towers.

鈥淭hey go hand in hand,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he work is very different but the math is similar.鈥�