Two-and-a-half years after receiving a grant from the Southern California Association of Governments to begin planning a streetcar system, the City of Glendale is now in the midst of a feasibility study for the project.
Glendale is considering two alignments for the proposed system, both of which would feature 16 stops run approximately 2.88 miles between Stocker Street in the north and the Glendale Transportation Center in the south, where it would connect with Metrolink and Amtrak trains.
The loop option would provide northbound service on Central Avenue and southbound service on Brand Boulevard through Downtown Glendale. South of Colorado Street, both northbound and southbound tracks would travel along Central Avenue.
The bi-directional option would provide northbound and southbound service on Central Avenue until Colorado Street, at which point the alignment would veer east to travel on Brand Boulevard.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the bidirectional alignment on brand would attract between 1,500 and 4,000 daily riders, while the loop alignment would see 1,400 to 3,800 daily passengers.
Construction of the project, which does not have dedicated funding or a set timeline, would cost somewhere between $250 million and $300 million.
The proposed streetcar system would intersect with a $267-million bus rapid transit line planned between North Hollywood and Pasadena, which is scheduled to begin construction by 2024. Metro is also considering plans for up to $175 million in upgrades to commuter rail service between Burbank, Glendale, and Downtown Los Angeles.
- Glendale Receives $200,000 Grant to Plan Streetcar Line (Urbanize LA)
- Glendale Streetcar (Official Website)