Los Angeles Approves Streetcar Funding Plan

The city of angels is one step closer to being a streetcar city.

The Los Angeles City Council approved a $291 million funding plan for building and operating a streetcar in an 11-0 vote.

Councilman Jose Huizar said this in a statement:

“Downtown Los Angeles is in the midst of incredible growth, and we need to do all we can to prepare for that growth and our escalating transportation needs.”

The project has experienced multiple delays – at one point it was scheduled to be operational in 2016. Earlier this year the $291 million budget was released, which was a $16.5 million increase from the budget that was projected last year. With each delay, the cost of materials and labor increased.

In a city known for traffic, the four-mile route with 23 stops would travel through key parts of downtown, helping the city become more pedestrian friendly. Huizar, whose district is where the streetcar’s route is located, called the project “shovel-ready.”