Downtown Los Angeles Streetcar Plans Released

The city of Los Angeles released the environmental assessment (EA) for its planned downtown streetcar earlier this week, as necessary under the National Environmental Policy Act.

Jon Regardie reports on the details of the EA, which estimates the projects cost at nearly $291 million, with another $15.6 million on the table if the project includes an extension to Grand Avenue.

The assessment reveals a 3.8-mile route that would be shaped like a pipe standing up, with a main southbound spine on Broadway from First to 11th streets. It would proceed west on 11th, turn north on Figueroa, then roll east on Seventh Street. At Hill Street it would again turn north, and go up to First Street. A right turn would bring it to Broadway, allowing for a continuous loop.

If the Grand Avenue leg is included, a streetcar at First and Hill would turn left on First Street, proceed two blocks and go south on Grand to a stop in front of Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Regardie also notes that the line would have 23 stops, one on each block for much of the route, on raised concrete platforms. The article also includes proposed headways and ridership projections.