Sacramento — Streetcar Costs Rise

Rail Transit Online, July 2008

The cost of the proposed streetcar line connecting the cities of Sacramento and West Sacramento has jumped from an estimated $50 million to $69 million. Most of the increase is attributed to an extension of the original route from Sacramento's midtown to a proposed intermodal transit center at the city's Amtrak station, and a decision to purchase modern low-floor streetcars instead of replica heritage trolleys.

The line would serve planned high-density housing, employment and office development in West Sacramento via the iconic Tower Bridge, which hasn't carried streetcars since 1941. The route would include use of existing light rail tracks along Seventh, Eighth and K streets in downtown Sacramento.

Financing would come from a combination of local sources including parking revenues, the sales tax and a property assessment fee on !ots within three blocks of the line. Property owners would have to approve the new levy; a vote might be held next year.