LA streetcar project inches closer to securing local funding
Courtesy of LA Streetcar Inc.
A rendering of a downtown L.A. streetcar by LA Streetcar Inc.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — The sounds of clapping and the sight of waving fans - carrying the logo “goLAstreetcar.org” - took over the Los Angeles City Council meeting this morning, as supporters of a downtown L.A. streetcar cheered at the passing of a few ordinances that will move the project towards securing local funding.
While the streetcar has a long history in L.A., the most recent streetcar restoration project picked up steam in 2008. The project is largely led by non-profit organization LA Streetcar Inc., which represents the private sector involved with the project, including downtown business and property owners.
This morning’s city council vote allows for the creation of a taxing district, called the Community Facilities District No. 9 (Downtown Streetcar), that will encompass the streetcar route. The four-mile streetcar is set to run near a range of DTLA locations, including the Historic Broadway District, Pershing Square and the Civic Center, and will closely resemble the path that ran through the historic core of downtown in the 1900s, according to Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's website.
This district will be determined by an election, where its residents will vote whether or not to levy a tax for the project, per the passing of one of the ordinances today. The annual tax on land square feet of property in the district would help locally fund nearly 50 percent of the streetcar’s construction by paying off bonds taken out to initially fund the project, said Shiraz Tangri, general counsel for LA Streetcar Inc.
The election requires more than two-thirds of the district’s residents to vote in support of the tax for it to pass. Residents will receive the election ballot in the mail the first week of November, and will have about a month to vote, Tangri said.
Councilman Jose Huizar said at the meeting that the funding model for DTLA’s streetcar project, which relies on a public-private partnership, mirrors the model in other cities with streetcars, like Portland.
Before the council voted on the ordinances, members of the community - including downtown L.A. residents and property owners - voiced their thoughts on the project during public comment.
A number of DTLA property owners spoke out against the ordinances, urging city councilmembers not to vote on the tax. Residents, not property owners, will determine whether a tax is imposed in the election, but some property owners feel the streetcar will not improve business in the area.
Others expressed concern about the annual tax affecting future property owners and residents, who did not have a say in the election.
"Under the current proposal... our kids are going to be paying, our grandkids are going to be paying this for the next 30 years without any representation" said Diana Schwartz, a downtown L.A. property owner, at the meeting. "Let's slow this process down to find a more equitable way to pay for it."
But supporters of the ordinances - who included some DTLA property owners - cited the streetcar's potential to revive a part of downtown L.A. history, integrate the city's different neighborhoods and serve as a boon to downtown business.
Robert Cushman, the vice president of operations for Brookfield Office Properties in downtown, said at the meeting that he thinks the streetcar will increase pedestrian traffic to the company's shopping center Figat7th, which is opening in October.
Tangri said today's city council votes are not the last action in starting construction on the project - there is still the election and an environmental review process to pass - but it is a significant step in getting funding. If the tax is approved by residents, the project can look towards receiving federal funding to fill the gap in costs.
“I think (the passing of the ordinances are) a good reflection of the work we’ve been doing with the project,” Tangri said, following the meeting.
Downtown L.A.’s streetcar is expected to resemble the modern, sleek design of those in other cities across the country, such as Portland and Seattle.
Steve White (@StevenMWhite) on July 31, 2012, at 02:55PM – #1
The streetcar is not going into Chinatown... don't know where that part of the article came from.
Also, it should go to Bunker Hill, but it looks like with funding it won't actually get that far.
Some more info: http://steven-white.com/2012/07/12/the-downtown-la-streetcar-should-travel-on-9th-street/
and a recent Downtown News article: http://www.ladowntownnews.com/news/streetcar-route-reduced/article_f14f01ce-d83d-11e1-9e58-001a4bcf887a.html
Hopefully the project can be expanded up to Bunker Hill on Grand Avenue soon after the first phase is built as that would dramatically increase the usefulness of the already great project.
Tony Pierce on July 31, 2012, at 03:10PM – #2
Steve,
If you follow the link that Kylie provided at the end of the sentence you highlight, you'll see that Metro is saying the streetcar will go to Chinatown. I will expand the link to make it clearer.
Matthew McKelligon on July 31, 2012, at 03:15PM – #3
So what makes this project separate from other Metro projects, funding-wise? It seems as though we're getting money left and right to build new light-rail lines or to upgrade existing infrastructure. This project's cost is chump-change when compared with the Expo Line. How is this project exempt from more government money? Because the Federal Government sees it as more of a development stimulator than a people circulator or what?
Jim Winstead on July 31, 2012, at 04:21PM – #4
the (obviously now out-of-date) mta website does not say that the streetcar will go to bunker hill and chinatown, it says that those are included in the project study area. as the article in the downtown news that steve linked to notes, the current proposed route does not include either bunker hill or chinatown.
Downtowncommuter on July 31, 2012, at 05:31PM – #5
The "Streetcar" is an ugly return to 19th Century transportation at a 21st Century cost to taxpayers. Thank goodness it will be put to a ballot that is chock-full of other tax raising schemes...thus insuring that the streetcar idea will be killed off once and for all.
Kylie Reynolds on July 31, 2012, at 06:35PM – #6
Thank you Steve and Jim for the clarification on route locations. Chinatown and Bunker Hill are listed by Metro as part of the streetcar restoration project study area, but are not included in the latest route. We have made the clarification above.
TODOSSOMOSPUTOS (@TODOSSOMOSPUTOS) on August 02, 2012, at 02:24PM – #7
Such a colossally dumb vanity project that will unnecessarily intensify congestion in an area that is so easily walkable.
The DASH exists and has a smart, network, for those who really want or need transport assistance, extending far beyond this silly, mono-direction themepark trolley.
Improve the DASH ride and extend service hours. Done.
schabling on September 05, 2012, at 05:55PM – #8
The DASH. LOL. What a mess! Advocating taking a bus in LA as a logical and predictable way to travel through downtown is like advocating a movie theater as a nice place to sit and read a book. The Dash for one, quits at 6:30pm. "That's right.Walkable LA." Try to get a fat person to walk from 2nd and Broadway to LA Live is a joke. Why don't you just tell them to hail a cab?
Only in LA can people begrudge something that works all over the world, in numerous other major cities. Property values go up where there is investment in transpo and streetcar lines. Yes, your condo property value will go up, and retail stores will come in furthering your upward property values.
Everybody in LA wants something but no one wants to pay. The Feds kick down when the area owners kick in. That's how it works with these "vanity" projects.