Sacramento Streetcar

Downtown / Riverfront Streetcar
Overview
Status	Proposed
Locale	Sacramento / West Sacramento
Termini	Sacramento Valley Station Sutter Health Park
Website	www.sacrt.com/sacramento-downtown-riverfront-streetcar-project/
Service
Type	Streetcar
Operator(s)	Sacramento Regional Transit District
Rolling stock	Siemens S700 (planned)
Technical
Line length	1.5 mi (2.4 km)
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification	Overhead
Route map Sacramento Valley Station Green County Center (7th & I │ 8th & H) 8th & K Blue 7th & Capitol │ 8th & Capitol GoldGreenBlue N Street Platform 2nd and Capitol Tower Bridge Sutter Health Park This diagram: view talk edit

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.

Planning

Downtown/Riverfront Streetcar Original Proposal
Cancelled
Maintenance facility Riverfront & Garden Riverfront & Market Riverfront & Ballpark City Hall/Sacramento CC Center Tower Bridge Gateway & Grand Raley Field Tower Bridge over Sacramento River   Yolo County Sacramento County Embassy Suites 3rd & K Sacramento Valley Station Green 8th & H/County Center 7th & I/County Center 8th & K 7th & K Green Line Blue Line Gold Line St. Rose of Lima Park Cathedral Square Blue California State Capitol Convention Center 16th & L 16th & J/Memorial Auditorium 19th & L/Midtown 19th & J/Lavender Heights
This diagram: view talk edit

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 2020^[update] the plan requires updating environmental documents,^[1] additional funding from host cities, and FTA approval.^[11]

See also

• Streetcars in North America
• Light rail in the United States

References

1. "STAFF REPORT" (PDF). SacRT. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
2. Hamann, Emily (14 August 2019). "Streetcar backers searching for alternative projects, uses for funds". Sacramento Business Journal. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
3. Rhee, Foon (17 September 2020). "Streetcar to nowhere?". Sacramento News & Review. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
4. Bizjak, Tony (26 April 2016). "Sacramento streetcar proponents are back with pricier plan". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
5. Environmental Assessment/Initial Study and Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration Downtown Riverfront Streetcar Project (PDF) (Report). Sacramento Area Council of Governments. May 2015. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
6. Khalil, Joe (2 May 2017). "Sacramento Streetcar Project Gets $50 Million in Federal Funding". KTXL. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
7. Lillis and Bizjak (21 June 2017). "A streetcar tax just passed in Sacramento". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
8. Bizjak, Tony (14 January 2019). "Sacramento streetcar project in serious jeopardy as price tag soars". Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
9. Haubner, Andrew (August 9, 2022). "SacRT approves new plan for West Sacramento streetcar line". CBS Sacramento. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
10. "Sacramento Downtown Riverfront Streetcar Project". Sacramento Regional Transit. April 24, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
11. Clift, Theresa (15 September 2020). "New light rail line over Tower Bridge between Sacramento, West Sacramento moves forward". Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 15 September 2020.

External links

• Downtown / Riverfront Streetcar
• City of Sacramento Streetcar Site
• West Sacramento Streetcar Site