San Pedro — Red Car Extension

Rail Transit Online, December 2006

The Board of Harbor Commissioners has approved a $1.9-million contract with a consultant team headed Wilson & Co. Inc., Engineers and Architects, to study a possible expansion of the highly popular Waterfront Red Car Line in San Pedro.  The 1.5-mi. (2.4 km) single-track streetcar, which opened along Harbor Boulevard in 2003, connects the harbor’s busy cruise ship terminal with several tourist attractions in the area.  It is equipped with an original (but heavily rebuilt) Pacific Electric trolley and two highly accurate replica cars.  Operations are limited to four days a week when cruise ships dock.  The additions to be analyzed include:

• A 3-mi. (4.8 km) northern extension to Wilmington
• A 1-mi. (1.61 km) circulator route through downtown San Pedro
• A 1.5-mi. (2.4 km) extension south from the existing terminal at 22nd Street to Cabrillo Beach
• A 1-mi.  spur south from the existing Ports O' Call station
• A 1-mile spur south from 22nd Street to a proposed new cruise ship terminal.

In addition, a 0.5-mi. (0.8 km) repositioning of the existing track near the Ports O' Call Village stop will be examined.  Wilson & Company’s three-year contract also includes studying construction of a streetcar maintenance building and museum.  The expanded route could allow daily operation and attract more tourists to the area.