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Downtown Streetcar Project to go Nonprofit
A Portland Streetcar | Photo by pdxjeff via Flickr
Skipping the bureaucracies of Metro and the city's own Department of Transportation, a coalition of downtown stakeholders, including government officials, voted last week to create a nonprofit to build a 3-mile streetcar line that would travel mostly along Broadway from LA Live to the some-day Grand Avenue Project.
The nonprofit will tentatively be named L.A. Streetcar Inc., inspired by Portland Streetcar Inc. who built that city's system, according to the Downtown News.
Sponsored message
The project was originally intended to be a ten-year one, but with recent enthusiasm, especially after studying the economic boost the streetcars gave Portland, Councilman Jose Huizar changed priorities, hoping it could be done in five years. The first hurdle is funding, which is $60-$90 million. That could take a couple years and Reyes said construction would take another few, even though in Portland, construction took one block per week. If the same model were to be applied in Los Angeles, a 3-mile system would be built in a little over six months.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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