I agree with you that this proposed route is out of the question...but for different reasons. Running down CapMall all the way to 8th Street would ruin the whole mall concept which might some day be redone into the nice ceremonial way. I think using the existing light rail tracks whenever possible is smart because its cheaper, faster and that's where the new developement is going to be concentrated. I also don't actually see how putting streetcars on busy streets make any more economical than putting them on side streets.
This streetcar proposal is entirely West Sacramento-centric. We need to create a streetcar route that is both practical and cost-effective, a route that will provide residents and visitors alike with an alternative to the car and promote planned growth areas in both cities not just in West Sacramento.
I've come up with my own route. Tell me what you think. It starts at the West Sacramento Civic Center, down West Capitol Ave, over the Tower Bridge and then turns onto 4th Street -past the western entrance to the Downtown Plaza and tunnel entrance to Old Sacramento, through the now isolated Chinatown and onto the existing light-rail tracks which will be front of the new Sacramento Valley Station at The Railyards. From there it follows the light-rail track to the K Street Mall and then north on 12th Street. At I (Eye) Street the streetcar turns east and runs along I Street turning south onto 19th Street and then east onto Capitol Avenue. Then the initial line would turn onto 21st Street. At R Street the streetcar would run under the LRT bridge and then connect to the existing light-rail tracks at 19th/R. Then running along the R Street Corridor the streetcar will follow the light-rail track to 12th Street and then onto R Street and run west turning onto 3rd Street back Capitol Mall and West Sacramento.
I first considered the streetcar sharing the existing railroad tracks between 19th and 20th streets with freight trains but ruled it out for a number of reasons. In order for the streetcar to use the tracks they would have to overcome the FRA safety and non-interference requirements and land for stations would have to be acquired -both of which would be too expensive. It would cost less to simply lay new tracks on 19th and 21st streets and avoid the freight tracks altogether.
I thought this route out -as which streets would be best to use. For example H Street, west of 16th Street, is in some ways preferable to I Street. However, east of 16th Street, I Street is much more preferable than H Street. Since there is no easy way to get from H Street to I Street in Midtown I chose to keep the streetcar entirely on I Street from 12th to 19th.
The route takes into account new or developing districts/neighborhoods and major tourist areas. The streetcar would link together- Raley Field and Riverwalk, Old Sacramento, intermodal station and The Railyards, K Street Mall, the Capitol, Convention Center and Theater District, Midtown West, and the R Street Corridor.
A near-term extension should first consider the existing densities and walkability. For this reason the first extension should be in Midtown Sacramento. This extension route would make a loop, from 21st Street, running east along Capitol Avenue, then up 26th Street (to avoid the congested 28th Street), skirting the western side of Sutter’s Fort Park (in front of St. Francis Church) and then west onto K Street, then south onto 21st Street, under the LRT elevated tracks and back onto the light-rail tracks at R St. The extension line would connect the network to Midtown East and the growing Sutter’s Fort District and the Alhambra Corridor.
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