A fanciful trolley reminiscent of an olden era, a past where travel and leisure commingled seamlessly along the streets of Downtown Los Angeles, is now, at the inception of a new millennium, on the precipice of manifesting itself beyond a mere dream and into a tangible and concrete railway.
On what was just another perennially warm and pleasant summer day in mid-August, the Planning and Land Use Management Committee convened at City Hall to debate and engage interested members of the public on this rather novel prospect.
Los Angeles is the latest modern metropolis—following the leads of other developed, hip and affluent cities such as Vancouver, British Columbia and Seattle—in embarking on the path towards revamping its congested epicenter, where commerce and business pump fuel into its economic-super-engine year round.
In order for The Streetcar project to receive approval, a Construction Manager/General Contractor or, alternative project delivery method, is necessary.
With a deadline of September 7th looming only a few weeks away, the General Manager of the Department of Transportation (DOT), hopes to get an authorization from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and receive a Small Starts Grant Application in order to launch the Downtown LA Streetcar Project.
The Downtown LA Streetcar currently has up to $85 million in local capital funding by way of a DTLA voter-approved Community Facilities District (CFD) special tax that was adopted with 73% support, handily surpassing the 2/3 supermajority needed for the measure; $10 million from the former Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA); and $1 million from the Measure R Local Return Fund for planning, environmental and pre-construction costs.
It also has $200 million exclusively for the Downtown LA Streetcar from voter-approved Measure M funding through Metro; although it will be unavailable until at least 2053.
DTLA’s current population, which stands at about 67,000, is projected to reach close to 200,000 residents by 2040. It is estimated that half a million workers traverse the area daily and that close to 19 million visitors come to Downtown annually.
The proposed Streetcar would relieve much of the traffic created by automobiles and buses. Such a feat would not only assuage but also encourage a more amicable environment for pedestrians as well.
The Streetcar route will feature Broadway as the backbone and connect to the Red/Purple, as well as the Blue, Gold, and Expo Lines as part of the Regional Connector.
Passengers would then be transported to South Park, the Convention Center and LA Live, the Financial District, the Historic Core, the Fashion District and the Civic Center.
The 3.8 mile fixed-rail system will run in a loop, heading east on 1st Street, south on Broadway, west on 11th Street, north on Figueroa Street, east on 7th Street and north on Hill Street to 1st Street again.
Aside from the obvious and monumental monetary supply that will be necessary to launch the project out of the law offices and onto construction sites, the proposed rail line would also conjure up a beautiful, albeit, more charming aspect.
“The mere announcement of the Streetcar coming has already stimulated economic growth,” said Councilmember Chair, Jose Huizar, to a packed hall Tuesday. “We are trying to authorize a plan to move forward. A lot more bars and restaurants are already opening up and there is a nostalgic remnant that would go along with it.”
Whether or not the city is reinvigorated with a literal memento from the past is yet to be seen, but Angelenos can be assured of one thing; their mesmerizing palace of residence rightfully deserves the elegant sobriquet encapsulated in: “The City Of The Future.”
