The Portland Streetcar will make permanent its closure of five stops in downtown Portland and the Pearl District, an attempt to speed up travel times.

The stops first closed for a test run in February. Portland Streetcar Inc., the nonprofit that administers the streetcar program for the city, said the closures have cut trips through downtown by about two minutes.

The five stops are:

NW 10th & Everett

NW 11th & Everett

SW 10th & Stark

SW 1st & Harrison in both directions

The stops will be decommissioned, and some will become stations for Portland's bike-share program, BikeTown, launching this summer.

-- Elliot Njus

enjus@oregonian.com

503-294-5034

@enjus