Los Angeles — Streetcar Company Formed

Rail Transit Online — August 2008

The downtown public-private partnership known as Bringing Back Broadway has taken a major step that could lead to construction of a modern streetcar line along one of the city's busiest shopping streets. Its trustees voted on Aug. 15 to create LA Streetcar, Inc., a sole-purpose non-profit organization that would manage design, construction and operation of a streetcar system focused on Broadway.

LA Streetcar's first goal is to raise about $400,000 to promote and develop the proposal. Modeled after the system in Portland, the streetcar is part of a plan to revitalize historic but faded Broadway between 3rd Street and 9th Street. The tracks would probably extend beyond the Broadway district to Chinatown in the north and Staples Center and the new LA Live entertainment development to the south.

The organization includes more than two dozen stakeholders, including property owners, preservationists, business leaders and city departments. Councilman Jose Huizar, who represents part of downtown, provides office space for the group.