Streetcars in Downtown's Future?
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — This morning the Red Car Advisory Committee met to discuss the status of the ongoing feasibility study. The group, which I've mentioned previously, heard a presentation from the IBI Group, the consultants on the study, and then discussed how the project moves forward as it leaves this phase.
A little background, for those of you joining this story late: Los Angeles used to have the world's largest streetcar system. Around the middle of the 1900s that system was neglected and gradually torn apart, and the last cars ran in the early 1960s. Now, as life begins to return Downtown for the first time since the cars last ran, interest is building in resurrecting the streetcars Downtown. Money was found for this initial feasibility study, and the Advisory Committee was drawn together out of various Downtown stakeholder groups to help guide the effort.
The Money Matter
I suspect that most feasibility studies end roughly the same: Is it possible? Sure, it's just a matter of money. Bottom line is that a initial routing of three to four miles would cost $60 - $70 million. That's a lot of money to me, but it seems pennies in the scope of overall transportation spending.
A large aspect of this study was looking at what funding models were used by other municipalities which have restored or created streetcar service in recent years. The common thread between all of them seems to be a large percentage of local money, whether that be from the regional transportation agency (in our case, the MTA), the City, business improvement districts or private donations.
Really, though, I don't care how a system's funded. Sure, I want to know that it has the money to run, but beyond that I don't care. I'll leave that part to those who do.
Setting the Right Priorities
I've been very pleased with the priorities developed for this study. It recognizes that the system must serve both visitors and residents in order to succeed, and understands that service must be frequent and available at most hours of the day. Additionally, the preservation of existing on-street parking is given to be important. Those are very good things.
It's Time to Buy the Idea, Not the Details
The fundamental thing that I think is important to grasp right now is that this is the time to buy into the idea of streetcar service and not a particular plan for routing or operational characteristics. That's tough for me. I want to jump right into route planning and technical details. But all of that is secondary at this stage. The main question to ask is: would Downtown benefit from some manner of circulator streetcar? If yes, then we as the community should be strongly behind finding the funding for the second phase of this project.
That's when we can start to worry about all the fun details.
Dana Gabbard on December 07, 2005, at 09:53AM – #1
Reviving streetcars is a trend in many urban areas around the U.S. There is even a Streetcar Coalition that lobbies the feds. I understand the Portland project used some usual funding sources an that is the model L.A. hopes to emulate.
Dana Gabbard on December 07, 2005, at 09:57AM – #2
Kind of groggy this morning -- I was out too late last night assembling the Transit Advocate newsletter. What I meant to say in the last post was: the Portland project used some unusual funding sources and that is the model L.A. hopes to emulate as I understand.
Scott Sookman on December 07, 2005, at 07:22PM – #3
I'd hate to be perceived as a brainless booster with no concrete plans but, RAH! RAH! STREETCARS!
Okay, now that the cheerleading is out of the way, I concur: the time has not yet arrived for details, the time now is for building wider support within the community. This system proposed would be more analagous to the old Los Angeles Railway ("Yellow Cars") which ran in downtown and nearby communities from 1915-1963, wheras the Pacific Electric ("Red Cars") system (interurban) is analgous to our current MetroRail system.
The Los Angeles Railway, at its most pervasive had 31 streetcar lines plus 21 shuttle services (not all running during the same years, though). If you tell most people that today, their jaws hit the floor. See www.erha.org for more info.