Minneapolis approves new streetcar line

[spuwho]

Per Trains Newswire:

Minneapolis gives tentative approval for streetcar plan
Published: June 25, 2013
MINNEAPOLIS â€" The Minneapolis city council has given its initial approval to build a $200 million streetcar line in the city. The initial a 3.2-mile line would travel along Nicollet and Central Avenues from the city’s north side though downtown Minneapolis. The city’s budget and transportation committees approved the proposal. It still requires approval from the full council, likely to come this week.

To help pay for the line, the city would redirect up to $60 million in property taxes to help pay for a streetcar line from apartment projects already underway in and around downtown. The city would still need to secure state, regional, or federal funds to pay for the rest of the project.

The last streetcars operated in Minneapolis in 1954 when the Twin City Rapid Transit Co. finished the conversion to buses. The Hiawatha Light Rail Line opened in 2004 between downtown Minneapolis and the Mall of America, and a new light rail line linking downtown Minneapolis with downtown St. Paul is set to open next year.

[thelakelander]

$200 million for 3.2 miles?  That cost is insane.  That's actually higher than what they spent per mile on the initial construction of the double tracked Hiawatha Line LRT system.

[spuwho]

$200 million for 3.2 miles?  That cost is insane.  That's actually higher than what they spent per mile on the initial construction of the double tracked Hiawatha Line LRT system.

I thought that might catch your eye.

[spuwho]

It appears the full city council approved it.

City Council OKs Minneapolis streetcar financing plan

By John Fitzgerald | 06/26/13
The Minneapolis City Council has approved a plan to pay for part of a proposed streetcar line that would run from the intersection of Lake Street and Nicollet Avenue north over the Mississippi River and onto East Hennepin Ave., reports Curtis Gilbert of Minnesota Public Radio. The city will “redirect property taxes from several buildings along the proposed route to pay for the project. The city estimates the new ‘value capture district’ would cover about a quarter of the $200 million cost of building the streetcar line. … Critics say streetcars are an overpriced alternative to buses. The funding mechanism approved today has also drawn criticism, because it will divert money from other city and county priorities.”

[spuwho]

Here is the "justification" site from the city.

http://www.minneapolismn.gov/publicworks/transplan/comp/public-works_trans-plan_streetcarstudy

[thelakelander]

I wonder what has been added to significantly raise the capital cost of this project?  I imagine they are completely rebuilding the streets and streetscape throughout the entire +3-mile corridor.

[spuwho]

I wonder what has been added to significantly raise the capital cost of this project?  I imagine they are completely rebuilding the streets and streetscape throughout the entire +3-mile corridor.

I took a look at the route map and it does go through a core area of the city, one that is quite busy. I agree, there must be more in that cost than just putting a couple of rails in the street. I will see if I can find the conceptuals, there usually is for projects like this.

[spuwho]

Lake

Here is the comparative study between transit types.

http://www.minneapolismn.gov/www/groups/public/@publicworks/documents/webcontent/wcms1p-104339.pdf

If you look at this document, this appears to not be a trivial project.

http://www.minneapolismn.gov/www/groups/public/@publicworks/documents/webcontent/wcms1p-104246.pdf

[thelakelander]

Interesting. Nice and informative presentation.  A few things stand out to me.

1. They refer to the style of BRT JTA is proposing as enhanced bus service instead of BRT.

2. Their modern streetcar ($30-$60 million/mile) and LRT ($80-$125 million/mile) cost estimates per mile are on the high end. These projects only reach that level when you start adding streetscapes, extensive double tracking, turn-key technology, etc. to the project's cost.  Go "no-frills" and you can significantly drop your cost while still providing reliable service.

3. I'm surprised they would prefer to mix this streetcar in with auto traffic at that cost.

4. 38 stops over a three mile stretch?  It will take forever to get from one end to the other.

5. A few years ago, we successfully fought JTA's proposal for turning Adams Street into a bus only mall, like Minneapolis' Nicollet Mall (which they used as a successful example). Nicollet is "so successful" that this city is willing to spend a god awful amount of money to put modern streetcars on it. Glad we avoided that potential disaster.