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Streetcar Misses Out on Federal Funds, Moving Forward with Environmental

By Eric Richardson
Published: Friday, July 09, 2010, at 03:06AM
With Traffic Eric Richardson []

A streetcar travels through Portland's Pearl District in April, 2008.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — The won't be receiving money from a $130-million "urban circulator" grant program announced yesterday, but the effort to find the $100 million it will take to build the line continues.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on Thursday morning during a press conference call. Receiving funds were streetcar projects in Charlotte, Cincinnati, Dallas, Fort Worth and St. Louis and a bus lane project in Chicago.

The projects funded tended to be much farther along in the planning process. In Cincinnati, for instance, the $25-million federal award gives the project $114.5 of its $128 million budget. The Charlotte project received a similar $25-million award, which will be coupled with $12 million in local funds to build a $37-million, 1.5-mile first leg of the system.

The week wasn't all bad news for the project, however. A motion to allow the Community Redevelopment Agency to spend $1 million on the project's environmental documents moved through City Council's economic development committee on Wednesday. Under an agreement reached earlier this year, Metro will be in charge of preparing the documents. The project's environmental work must be done by the end of 2011.

Other federal funding opportunities are also on the horizon. The project will be applying to the , and a followup urban circulator program is expected next year.

The project's first phase is intended to be operational by 2014, connecting the Convention Center and L.A. Live to Bunker Hill via the Broadway corridor.

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Guest 1

Guest on July 09, 2010, at 10:20AM – #1

That's a bummer.


Guest 2

Guest on July 09, 2010, at 03:09PM – #2

Good job, Jessica Wethington McLean! What does the city pay you for a job poorly done? No less than $125k, I'm sure!

Tax dollars at work!


User_32

Harry M on July 09, 2010, at 08:06PM – #3

They can apply again next year. The project was designed for a 2014 release either way. (It was worth a shot that is). Fund-raising and grant-writing is key.

Another "circulator," (with its own planed route, no less), that travels in, near downtown, around Union Station, per-se, then thru China-town and thusly, Dodger Stadium would be highly favorable.


Guest 3

Guest on July 09, 2010, at 08:43PM – #4

This is the first bump in the road I've heard about with this project since it first started. Nothing this big and important goes entirely smoothly, especially if you have to deal with our federal government.

If at first you don't succeed, try try again! I'm glad someone in this city is trying to do something positive. All of downtown is with you guys so keep up the GREAT work!


Eric Metz () on July 10, 2010, at 01:01PM – #5

It should also be noted that this specific funding stream was announced on short-notice and wasn't factored into the streeetcar's long-term funding timeline -- so missing this grant opportunity isn't a huge hurdle. More federal funding opportunities are on the horizon...


Guest 4

Guest on July 10, 2010, at 04:18PM – #6

Although it is a disappointment to not receive the urban circulator grant, applications are being made for TIGER grants and other partnerships.

Those projects that did receive funding were a few years ahead of our streetcar project with a dedicated local funding source. About 50% will be funded locally and the balance through transit, federal and other funding sources. Each successful project is funded differently.

However, this grant application has allowed LA Streetcar Inc (LASI) to now be ready to go for other applications and also learn from the successes of other projects.

This week's LA Business Journal includes the announcement of support from Eli Broad (Grand Avenue Project/ MOCA/ Broad Art Museum), Tim Leiweke (AEG/ LA Live/ Staples Center/ Marriott & Ritz Carlton Convention Center Hotel) and Rick Caruso (The Grove/ Americana in Glendale) as co-hosts for our fund-raising & outreach event for the downtown kick off campaign to build support for the project.

Streetcar supporters include a coalition of Bringing Back Broadway Trustees, Owners of the historic theatres, Delijani family, Steve Needleman/ Orpheum Theater, Councilman Huizar, Downtown Center BID, Historic Downtown BID, Fashion District BID, South Park BID, Downtown LA Neighborhood Council, local businesses and residents.

The $1 BILLION regional connector is also an important light rail link downtown, connecting the Blue line & Expo line with the Gold Line for a seamless through put network.

The streetcar will connect the heavy rail, light rail, DASH and bus lines into a more integrated system that enables downtowners to easily move around among connected neighborhoods without a car.


User_32

JDRCRASHER on July 12, 2010, at 11:43AM – #7

I wonder if this has to do with the fact that the 30/10 initiative is already gaining steam. Perhaps this is just politics.


User_32

Rich Alossi on July 12, 2010, at 02:37PM – #8

How about direct Broad to spend whatever amount was originally planned for the Grand Avenue parking garage on the streetcar instead? It'd be a much better investment than even more parking on Bunker Hill, and fits in nicely with his vision for the area.


John Swartz on July 21, 2010, at 09:40AM – #9

What a shame! This project has to be one of the most necessary and important urban core circulatory projects out there. Do the math... what other city is more in need of central transit more than LA?? NONE! .

Not Charlotte, Cincinnati, Dallas, Fort Worth, St. Louis, or Chicago. LA is in dire straights for urban transit and this is the project that will make a huge leep forward.


User_32

ed27 on July 29, 2010, at 05:49PM – #10

I'd rather see Broadway turned into a ONE WAY street with angled parking // . The city in banging us for 3.00 for an hour for meters now...should be for 3.00 for 2hrs...I'm convinced the city doesn't want the street car. I'd like to see what Bringing Back Broadway has spent their money on so far?


User_32

John Varela on October 04, 2010, at 06:14PM – #11

Definitely something should be done on Broadway. I love that street. But definitely an aesthetic quality bar needs to be raised. All of the businesses would surely benefit.



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