Broadway, Streetcar Asking to Apply for Federal Funds
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — $600 million dollars is up for grabs in the federal government's TIGER II grant program, and a pair of Downtown projects are hoping to get in on the action. A motion introduced at City Council yesterday asks that the Bringing Back Broadway effort and the Downtown L.A. Streetcar be given permission to submit for the funds, which are set to be distributed in the fall.
The TIGER II program, or "Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery" program, is a followup to a $1.5 billion program that was part of the 2009 stimulus bill.
The motion, put forward by Councilman Jose Huizar and seconded by Councilwoman Jan Perry, calls the streetcar "a strong candidate" for the grant program and points out significant streetcar awards issued in the first round of funding.
Backers hope to see the streetcar operational by 2014, but that depends on raising the approximately $100 million that the first phase will cost. The project should find out at the end of June whether it will receive $25 million in federal funds that it applied for in December.
The Broadway money would go toward infrastructure improvements, specifically the implementation of the streetscape plan developed last year. The motion says that $25 million remains to be found for infrastructure improvements along the corridor.
The motion will go to the City Council's Transportation committee before heading to the full Council.
Guest on May 20, 2010, at 08:18PM – #1
We need this because it is simply a great idea, perfectly Green (well almost), and may help ease congestion in Downtown. Its not about "what was", it's about real transportation, the kind of transportation LA once had everywhere. All good: Rail/Lightrail/monorail/electric bus/cable cars. It's a good thing.
Howie on the Hill