Portland State University will receive about $50,000 from the city of Portland after a streetcar derailed downtown and damaged concrete and brickwork at the campus’ urban plaza last fall.

The area along Southwest Montgomery Street near Southwest Fifth Avenue has been the site of two derailments, including one last month, according to Kathryn Levine, a Portland Streetcar division manager. She told the Portland City Council on Wednesday that the cause of the October derailment is still under investigation, but the Nov. 2018 incident was likely caused by debris such as leaves causing the rear wheels to go off the tracks.

“The actions that were taken in response obviously did not prevent the events that occurred just recently,” Levine said. She did not elaborate on what was done between the first and second derailment.

City commissioners approved paying Portland State University $49,580 to settle the school’s property damage claim against the city.

The streetcar derailed around 4 p.m. on Nov. 10, 2018 at the plaza’s entrance, according to a general liability claim form sent to the city by PSU’s assistant director of property and risk management. It damaged trench drain covers and left other concrete, brick and substructure damages. No one was injured.

PSU submitted the claim in January. Mayor Ted Wheeler said the university initially demanded nearly $60,000 before agreeing to the settlement.

-- Everton Bailey Jr.

ebailey@oregonian.com | 503-221-8343 | @EvertonBailey

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