Plans for a Downtown Los Angeles streetcar are still chugging along, but perhaps not as quickly as prospective riders might have hoped.
The City Council’s Transportation Committee will review a report on Wednesday from city staff indicating that the project’s realistic opening date will have to be pushed back to July of 2021—seven months later than the previous estimate.
Delays should be familiar to longtime Downtown residents. The streetcar was once projected to open as early as 2016, but a lack of funding and other issues have so far kept the project in the planning stages.
The report also contains a new cost estimate for the project: $274.2 million (or $290.7 million including finance charges). That’s a little higher than previous estimates, due to the later opening date. The cost also rises to $306.3 million if an extension of the line to Grand Avenue is constructed, though last year the City Council decided not to pursue that option unless additional funding becomes available.
As it stands now, the project is expected to make a loop from the Historic Core down to South Park and up through the Financial District. It would arrive every seven minutes during peak hours and every 10 to 15 minutes during off-peak hours.
According to the funding plan for Measure M, Metro’s sales tax hike passed in November, the project is due to receive $200 million. Unfortunately, the funding schedule as it exists today doesn’t make that money available until 2053. Not surprisingly, the report notes the importance of convincing Metro to make those funds available sooner in order to complete the project on time.
The rest of the money for the project will come largely from a property tax approved by Downtown voters in 2012. The Los Angeles Department of Transportation is also applying for a $100 million grant that would also provide additional funding.
The city has also been looking into the idea of a public-private partnership to get the project going if funding comes up short. The report notes, though, that that option would push back the project’s opening date even further, to mid-2022.
- City Council settles on a route for the Downtown Streetcar [Curbed LA]
- Downtown's Street Car Will Go 6 MPH [Curbed LA]
- The Downtown Los Angeles Streetcar Loop is Officially a Go [Curbed LA]
Comments
Just get it done before the Olympics come!
By Arch2000 on 06.27.17 9:57am
If DTLA wants to fund it, good for them. I would rather county revenue not go funding this trolly for tourists.
By RXBXUXNX on 06.27.17 10:27am
Why do you say that? You do realize that DTLA is in the middle of a residential and commercial boom. The Streetcar would mainly serve those people, and, yes, tourist. What’s wrong with that? BTW, people from all over the county work in DTLA too.
It will benefit locals and people coming into DTLA from all over. DTLA is becoming a destination location. It’s not just about the people working or even living there. And the streetcar path will integrate nicely with the upcoming regional connector currently under construction.
By mrxman on 06.27.17 6:18pm
Look at the route.
It’s one way, which means that getting anywhere will require a bit of a round trip, adding time on an already very slow mode of transportation.
It will not complement the regional connector, it will duplicate service that the regional connector and red line provide, except it will run at 7mph every 7-15 minutes while the regional connector runs at ~20mph every 3-6 minutes and the red line runs at ~20mph every 2-6 minutes.
Street cars are supposed to be for frequent short trips, but it wont run frequently and because it is a one way loop it wont function for short trips.
DTLA continues to boom, but it is concentrated in a few areas. This streetcar will do nothing to expand the boom in DTLA to other nearby areas. Instead of linking South Park and the Historic Core, that are already crisscrossed by highquality transit and by the time the street car opens will be basically built out; why not pick a route into HiFi, Pico Union, East Westlake(City West?), or the Fashion District.
As a transportation mode, it’s too slow and too circuitous. As a catalyst for development and investment, it is going to open far too late to assist in the development of the neighborhoods it passes through.
By RXBXUXNX on 06.28.17 12:21pm
The purpose of a streetcar is not the same thing as a light rail or subway. And it will complement the regional connector. It doesn’t service the same path. The streetcar will be used by people, for example, who live there and go grocery shopping, out to dinner, go to the movies etc. BTW, you don’t have to stay on the streetcar in a whole loop. Why do you think the loop is close together for most of it in both directions? So you can simply cross the street and take it in the other direction. Have you ever been to SF? Do people take Bart for the same reason they take the cable cars? Of course not. Same difference here. It will work very nicely.
By mrxman on 06.29.17 7:07pm
How much of DTLA’s business and residential tax base contributes to projects in your neighborhood? Quite a lot more than your neighborhood’s taxes will help fund this project, I wager.
By disqusted on 06.29.17 4:00pm
By far the dumbest thing our Mayor has approved yet. They already have this, it’s called the Dash bus and it doesn’t cost $200 Million. How about you use that money to get the homeless off the streets in downtown.
By LADude on 06.27.17 11:17am
Put 200 million towards fixing the Blue/Expo on Flower street.
I’m sure it is a novel concept for some people, but use money that has been set aside to improve transportation to actually improve transpiration.
Instead they plan to waste it on a tourist attraction.
By RXBXUXNX on 06.27.17 12:07pm
Why all the hatred to tourist attractions? Tourism brings money.
By Infinite3Ent on 06.27.17 12:57pm
Yes, because everyone will come to LA for its famed downtown streetcar. haha.
By LADude on 06.27.17 1:12pm
Not specifically right now, but maybe in the future. But more than that DTLA is becoming a destination location. With places like Grand Central Market, Disney Complex, Music Center, Grand Park, Clifton’s, Broad Museum, L.A. Live, etc. DTLA is in the middle of a construction boom and the Streetcar will be a welcome mode of transportation to get to all these places for residents, workers, and tourists.
By mrxman on 06.27.17 6:24pm
Yes, but they already have the same public transportation. It is called the Dash bus. It literally does the same thing in downtown LA. and doesn’t cost $200MM. I suggest you read more about the street car. It’s inefficient and costly.
By LADude on 06.28.17 11:51am
Yes, the Dash has been around for years, but it’s a van bus and doesn’t have a dedicated lane or priority. It just goes along with every other vehicle on the street. The Streetcar will have a dedicated track and priority. I guess you’d get rid of the cable cars in SF because they are inefficient too? Efficiency is important in public transit, but if no one likes taking that mode of transport, it’s inefficient in real terms.
By mrxman on 06.29.17 7:12pm
Will it bring in 200 million in the first few years?
By RXBXUXNX on 06.27.17 2:36pm
They are already planning on doing that as part of the upgrades to the Blue Line.
By mrxman on 06.27.17 6:14pm
Funds for the homeless are in a different pot of money. As you well know, LA and LA County residents voted for funding to help the homeless, so that’s already in the works.
By mrxman on 06.27.17 6:20pm
It will be squander like all the past years. Admin fees and regulations will take 75% of the funds. Hardly anything gets to the street level where it is needed most. There were several reports that show the city spending around $315,000 per homeless unit. Yes 1/3 of a million dollars for one single unit. That is truly deplorable. Portland and other city like Salt Lake city have a much better approach.
By LeBasque on 06.27.17 6:55pm
You wouldn’t know Portland was doing any better if you read the local rags up there. Salt Lake City, definitely.
By disqusted on 06.29.17 4:02pm
I should have been more clear, I’m specifically speaking on this very promising project: http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2016/06/portland_developers_pitch_100.html
By LeBasque on 06.30.17 12:26am
That is an interesting project, but I’m skeptical given that Homer Williams has always been ambitious, but has traditionally under-delivered on his promises and is a pretty huge grifter to boot, with millions of public subsidies for his past projects lining his pockets.
By disqusted on 06.30.17 10:56am
Maybe he has finally (turned over a new leaf), at least someone is trying to do something.
By LeBasque on 06.30.17 12:22pm
They will do better because these are very specifically detailed bills about what happens with the funds, and there will be public input. So if you have good ideas, let them know and do something about it and not just complain.
By mrxman on 06.29.17 7:18pm
Right away sir, because we all know this Major is on top of every great idea? lol This city is a chronic idea killer, you must be a transplant.
By LeBasque on 06.30.17 12:27am
Ultimately it’s the same pot of money.
By LADude on 06.28.17 11:51am
No, it’s not. At least not in the real world as opposed to your pseudo dystopian view of just about everything. I guess once a contrarian always a contrarian, Mr. curmudgeon.
By mrxman on 06.29.17 7:16pm