| Downtown / Riverfront Streetcar | |
| Type: | Streetcar |
| Status: | Proposed |
| Locale: | Sacramento / West Sacramento |
| Start: | Sacramento Valley Station |
| End: | Sutter Health Park |
| Website: | www.sacrt.com/sacramento-downtown-riverfront-streetcar-project/ |
| Operator: | Sacramento Regional Transit District |
| Stock: | Siemens S700 (planned) |
| Electrification: | Overhead |
| Map State: | collapsed |
The Downtown Riverfront Streetcar Project is a proposed 1.5miles 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.[1] At the time, the streetcar was envisioned as a 4.4miles line running from Midtown to West Sacramento. 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.[2] If built, the service was expected to attract 5,800 daily riders.[3]
The project received $50 million from the federal government for construction in May 2017.[4] 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.[5]
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.[6] The Sacramento City Council dissolved its special-use district dedicated to streetcar maintenance in August 2019.
After failure of the initial plan, the line was retooled into a shorter 1.5miles route running from Sacramento Valley Station to Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento via Tower Bridge with one additional stop.[7] 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.[8] SacRT plans to operate the service using a single Siemens S700 car, the same vehicle that is used on existing SacRT light rail service.[9] the plan requires updating environmental documents,[10] additional funding from host cities, and FTA approval.[11]