Downtown-Riverfront Streetcar Project
Downtown/Riverfront Streetcar Project
SACOG has partnered with the City of Sacramento, the City of West Sacramento, Yolo County Transportation District, Sacramento Regional Transit District, and the California Department of Transportation to undertake planning, engineering, and environmental documentation for the Downtown/Riverfront Streetcar connecting West Sacramento and Sacramento.
Streetcar awarded $30 million in funds from CA State Transportation Agency
On August 16, 2016, the California State Transportation Agency announced the selection of the Downtown/Riverfront Streetcar for $30 million in funds from the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program to advance the planning and construction of the streetcar.
Finding of No Significant Impact Issued
Downtown/Riverfront Streetcar
On February 12, 2016 The Federal Transit Administration issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Downtown/Riverfront Streetcar project.
Streetcar Identified for $75M Federal Grant
The Obama Administration renewed its commitment to the Downtown/Riverfront Streetcar Project, designating $75 million in federal funding in the President’s proposed budget for Federal Fiscal Year 2017.
Streetcar Schedule Milestones
The currently proposed alignment for the streetcar line requires additional environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Federal funding would trigger the need for review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). However, because the project was previously evaluated in an Environmental Impact Rerport, and the project would be designed to minimize impacts (including limiting right-of-way acquisition), a more focused and streamlined environmental review is anticipated.
2015 Draft Environmental Document (CEQA/NEPA) Circulated for Public Review
2016 Final Environmental Document Approved
2018 Construction begins
2020 Streetcar is operating
Project Description
The proposed 3.3-mile streetcar alignment would extend from the West Sacramento Civic Center to the Midtown entertainment and retail district in the City of Sacramento. Mixed-use neighborhoods in the Washington Neighborhood (designated as a Transit Priority Area), the Bridge District, and the Railyards Specific Plan Area have been planned around a future high-quality transit system intended to serve these new and emerging employment and residential districts.
Background
Significant levels of growth are projected to occur in the urban core of Sacramento and West Sacramento during the next 20 years. The two cities have approved land use entitlements for major urban infill projects including the Railyards, Bridge District, and Washington Area District. This projected growth will generate greater travel demand on local transit services and roadways.