A DT/MT Streetcar: Funding? Uncertain. Determination? Certain.

Street Car vision and funding status update:

• Feds: President Obama puts $75M in 2017 budget, US Senate wants less in that fund.
• State: $58M requested from Cap and Trade fund; joins a long list of other projects
• Local: Area government leaders add $45M in enhancements - adding a line down West Sacramento's riverfront and giving the streetcars unfettered access to K Street by moving Light Rail off that street (previously approved by the RT board).

Meanwhile, the City is working on a Mello Roos assessment district as a way to put forward the city's share of now $58M

 And last week, the RT Board approved money for a  consultant to design the project to meet federal requirements for funding.  More details.

Councilman Hanson believes Sacramento is in the best position it has ever been in to bring the project to reality.  A best case scenario would have construction beginning in 2018 with the first rides in 2020.

Stay tuned...


Info and Image sources: SBJ, SacBee, KCRA

Bee nice to the yellowjackets!

No, not the bees and wasps...

Those very visible visitor guides Downtown.  These community "ears and eyes" also have a nose for nuisance behavior and trouble makers.

They work closely with law enforcement to keep DT safe.  And did you know they are also trained to resolve/defuse conflicts too?

Downtown is Reconnecting to the Riverfront!

Two riverfront connections getting a major upgrade.

#SACTOWNURBANUPDATE: Sacramento  City is well under way with it's Riverfront Re-connection project that will greatly improve access between the popular local and visitor destinations of Downtown, Capitol Mall, Old Town and the Crocker Art Museum.  Costing $13.5 million in local and federal matching funds the project is scheduled to be completed by late summer/early fall 2016.

Capitol Mall at Tower Bridge will feature wider sidewalks and improved landscaping; a new entrance to Old Town is being built for pedestrians, bikes and autos that will connect with 2nd Street.

Likely look of new Old Town/Capital Mall connector looking South

The O Street Bridge by the Crocker Art Museum will also feature wider sidewalks and a new railing to encourage pedestrian flow between Crocker and the Riverfront.

Construction is scheduled Monday through Friday and on 3 weekends in the fall, but not during special events in Old Town.

For Construction Detour information visit this map or the City's project site for more details.

Spring is springing in Urban gardens!

Spring is here, and so are thoughts of urban gardens!  If you've wondered about how to grow something edible in your urban space here are some sources for ideas.

It's time to Grow Up!  I mean grow vertically as in Urban Gardening:

Only have a patio?  Check on these patio gardening ideas  And, good gardening means composting:

 

  Are you kidding?  This is a composter!

One excellent source for city dwellers is composting 101; and if you want to know how composting works take a look too at these tips for urban composting

And, get growing!

Image sources: Urban Gardening Online (herb pots), Darby Minow Smith (composter)

Convention Center/Community Theater: Starting over is just not an option...

As presented to the DSP Board this morning, building a new Theater just does not make financial (or common) sense when the existing Theater and Convention Center have "good bones" and a PRIME location.

A location that anchors and ties together the emerging districts from the Riverfront to Midtown.

AND, there may be bond money to help finance the project!

Read All About it...


Image(s) courtesy of SBJ

We rent zip cars, why not zap* bikes to rent? JDI!

The Sacto Flatlands?  For cyclists it's the Badlands!  ...and a bike rental program is in the news again!

Anyone who has attempted the masochistic exercise of biking downtown knows it can be hazardous to their health.  These brave souls encounter bike lanes that truncate between Midtown and Downtown, lanes that squeeze you past obstacles and a patchwork of bike lanes (euphemistically called a network).

The League of American Cyclists rated Sactown one rank above the bottom.  See last year's Dismal bike safety rating.  And yet we're ranked # 8 by Forbes in their 2015 Published Survey.

But maybe there's hope (there is ALWAYS hope!) The city wants to further encourage the use of bicycles by installing a bike rental program.  Perhaps this will be the impetus to deal with the mess we have now.  Maybe we're almost there, just need to ZAP into action! *

I agree with the SacBee Board - just do it (JDI!)  Here's what the they had to say about a
bike sharing service

[* ZAP:  A sudden effect or event that makes a dramatic impact...]

image by Craig Ruttle, AP

Business leaders offer guidelines for sustaining economic momentum...

" With the right leadership, Sacramento can be California's top destination for job creation"

That subtitle tells the true goal of the white paper presented at yesterday's DSP's Board meeting: "A Statement of Principles and Priorities to Grow Sacramento's Economy"

Drafted by a broad cross section of area business leaders, it is meant as a blueprint to guide the city's future political leaders: the mayor, council members, their staff and other regional governmental leaders.

It's intended to Champion Sacramento's Economic Prosperity with a Proposed Economic Vitality Strategy.  The premise is that while there are encouraging signs of recovery from the Great Recession, some experts expect another downturn.  And Sacramento needs to prepare itself by fostering the right conditions for businesses to succeed, thereby growing and diversifying our local economy.

Five key components of the position paper:
A Prioritized Approach to become a top job creation location
   - Foster a business climate so businesses will want to locate here

Stabilize the City's fiscal health
   - Encourage city to take an analytical approach to revenue and expense decisions

Improve Infrastructure and Transportation systems
   - Modernize aging city center utility networks; pursue systemic improvements to RT

Develop Quality Venues to attract ;visitors and locals
   - Prioritize Destination Development; become a Top 25 Convention City

Cultivate and Retain a top STEM  (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) workforce
   - The next initiative: Sactown as a technology hub

Read more...comments from others...  and 3 Questions...



Image by Dennis McCoy, SBJ