Sacramento — Streetcar Project Starts Over

Rail Transit Online, May 2009

Officials in Sacramento and West Sacramento have decided to re-study the proposed streetcar line connecting the two cities to resolve disagreements over the proposed route. The original 2.2-mi. (3.54 km) alignment was to run from the West Sacramento Civic Center to Sacramento's midtown via the iconic Tower Bridge, which hasn't carried streetcars since 1941.

But last year planners suggested extending the line to a proposed intermodal transit center at the Amtrak station using existing light rail tracks along Seventh, Eighth and K streets in downtown Sacramento. Also adding to the cost is switching from replica heritage trolleys to modern low-floor streetcars.

The two changes raised the price tag from an estimated $50 million to $69 million. West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon told the Sacramento Bee he wanted to "...go back to the drawing board and look at the numbers again," which would result in a "much stronger" design.

Most of the capital and operating costs would be paid by West Sacramento, where voters last November approved extending a 0.25-percent sales tax to help finance the project.