Sacramento Streetcar

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

StatusProposed
Termini
Downtown / Riverfront Streetcar
Overview
StatusProposed
LocaleSacramento / West Sacramento
Termini
Websitewww.sacrt.com/sacramento-downtown-riverfront-streetcar-project/
Service
TypeStreetcar
Operator(s)Sacramento Regional Transit District
Rolling stockSiemens S700 (planned)
Technical
Line length1.5 mi (2.4 km)
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
ElectrificationOverhead
Route map

Sacramento Valley Station Amtrak SacRT light rail
County Center (7th & I8th & H)
8th & K
7th & Capitol8th & Capitol
N Street Platform
2nd and Capitol
Tower Bridge
Sutter Health Park

The Downtown Riverfront Streetcar Project[1] is a proposed 1.5-mile (2.4 km) streetcar line intended to connect West Sacramento to Sacramento's downtown business districts and the greater transportation network. The project is being undertaken by a consortium including the City of Sacramento, the City of West Sacramento, the Yolo County Transportation District, and the Sacramento Regional Transit District.

In 2008 West Sacramento voters passed Measures U and V, a raise in sales tax dedicated to streetcar funding.[2] At the time, the streetcar was envisioned as a 4.4-mile (7.1 km) line running from Midtown to West Sacramento.[3] While distinct from the SacRT light rail system, it would have shared some right-of-way and assets with that system; RT would likely also operate the line.[4] If built, the service was expected to attract 5,800 daily riders.[5]

The project received $50 million from the federal government for construction in May 2017.[6] By June 2017, $200 million in local, state, and federal grants had been secured to build the streetcar line. A special district that includes businesses close to the streetcar agreed to a tax to offset operating costs; it was expected to generate $50 million over 25 years.[7]

Plans stalled in 2019 as construction bids came in significantly higher than expected, with the lowest bid at $184 million, or $76 million higher than anticipated.[8] The Sacramento City Council dissolved its special-use district dedicated to streetcar maintenance in August 2019.[2]

After failure of the initial plan, the line was retooled into a shorter 1.5-mile (2.4 km) route running from Sacramento Valley Station to Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento via Tower Bridge with one additional stop.[3] The revised alignment would have inbound streetcars turn south at 3rd Street after the Tower Bridge and then turn west along N Street to join the existing light rail tracks towards Sacramento Valley Station.[9] SacRT plans to operate the service using a single Siemens S700 car, the same vehicle that is used on existing SacRT light rail service.[10] As of 2026, the Public Comment Period has been expanded till the 12th of February. Initial construction is expected to begin in the Fall of 2026, and completed in 2029.[10][11]

See also

References

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