Hope this idea pans out as it would be a delightful way to get around the downtown core and cross the river to West Sacramento.
An excerpt.
Streetcar desires may turn to reality
By Tony Bizjak - Bee Staff WriterPublished 12:00 am PDT Thursday, October 26, 2006
Spurred by other cities' success bringing old-fashioned trolley lines back to downtowns, Sacramento officials plan public and private discussions next week on how to turn their streetcar desires into rail reality.
Leaders in West Sacramento and Sacramento say it's time to decide the future of a streetcar system linking the two cities via the Tower Bridge.
"There is a lot of enthusiasm and momentum behind this," said Caroline Quinn, West Sacramento's streetcar project manager.
Quinn and other officials say a streetcar loop would allow workers, residents and visitors to travel within downtown and into West Sacramento's developing riverfront without the headaches of traffic and limited parking.
Streetcars -- smaller, less expensive and more nimble than light-rail trains -- have gained cachet in recent years in Portland, San Francisco and other cities as a way to boost land values and give downtown street life more pizazz.
But officials have fundamental questions that need to be answered soon: How much might the project cost? Where will the money come from? Can the communities agree on the route and the stops?
City officials plan a public "brainstorming" session in the West Sacramento City Hall galleria from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Monday.
That will be followed by meetings with neighborhood groups, transit riders, tourism officials and a select group of developers and property owners with land near the potential streetcar route.
With new high-rise office buildings and residential units planned on both sides of the river, officials say they must move quickly to win early buy-in from developers to help finance the streetcars.
"Can we get this up and running in five years for less than $50 million, and not use dollars that would take away from other high priorities?" consultant Wendy Hoyt asked.
Officials with the two cities, as well as the Yolo County Transportation District and Sacramento Regional Transit, say they have agreed they want to stay away from competing with other transportation projects for scarce federal funds.
