In a decision Monday evening, SacRT transferred $25 million in state Proposition 1A funds to the Sacramento Riverfront Streetcar project. Agenda item 22 had two options, to transfer the funds now, and to hold the funds for future decision. Option A was passed, with some modifying language to recognize that if other major pieces of the funding puzzle did not come through, the assignment was null. The $25M is a match for other funding sources, without which the streetcar project would either not be viable or would be smaller than the cities of West Sacramento and Sacramento wish it to be.

STAR analyzed the issue and decided to oppose the transfer of funds to the streetcar. A letter and testimony (by Action Team member Delphine ‘DD’ Cathcart) were provided to the SacRT board members and staff. Quite a number of other individuals and group spoke against the tranfer and for other uses of the funds, for various reasons, and a few spoke in favor of the transfer, though one of them was prominent – Mayor Darrell Steinberg.

STAR wants to Prop 1A funds spent for the purpose they were allocated, to improve regional transit access to Sacramento Valley Station and the eventual high speed rail station. The streetcar does little for regional access, being a slow, local service designed as a pedestrian accelerator and economic development tool.

STAR believes that the funds should instead be spent by SacRT to start on the SVS loop project and on purchasing low-floor light rail cars that can accommodate travelers. The SVS loop project would re-route light rail through the railyards for better access to the station, while low-floor cars are critical for use by travelers with luggage, bicycles, strollers, and mobility devices. We haven’t yet supported the SVS project because the exising design was completed long ago, before changes to the station and the opportunities provided by major league soccer stadium and the Kaiser regional hospital, but we do believe that better access is important and worth investing in.

SacRT staff was reluctant to state that the streetcar was the highest transit priority, and a number of board members also expressed reluctance to spend SacRT money on an uncertain streetcar project. Nevertheless, the motion passed.

Both during the meeting, and apparently beforehand, the city promised SacRT that they would support the SVS loop project. STAR will be following through with the city to make sure that they follow through with their promise, and that the city provides major and perhaps entire funding for the SVS loop.

• SacRT