Post by Alexis Kasperavičius on Mar 20, 2015 0:02:31 GMT -8
Sad news:
Has San Pedro’s waterfront Red Car reached the end of the line?
by Donna Littlejohn - Contra Costa Times
San Pedro’s charming waterfront Red Car rail trolley took years of planning, design and construction delays — and $10 million — to finally become a reality along the waterfront 12 years ago.
Now, like the vast system of Red Cars that once crisscrossed Los Angeles, it may not survive.
The trolly is set to go dark for 18 months, beginning in late September, to make way for the needed realignment of Sampson Way leading into Ports O’ Call Village.
After that, it’s return is uncertain.
Because the realignment cuts through the southern part of the 1.5-mile rail line, it would require a new track and modified, street-level cars— running parallel to the new Sampson Way — to be built at a cost of $40 million.
Port officials indicated Thursday that might simply be prohibitive.
“You have a gem here,” said Bob Bryant, one of the Red Car conductors. “This is part of San Pedro.”
Pat Nave, a retired Los Angeles deputy city attorney, called the Red Car an icon for San Pedro, noting that it is often used on marketing brochures and a consistent hit with tourists.
The unique attraction is even slated to be mentioned in the AAA’s Westways magazine at the end of summer.
Responding to a request by port Commissioner Anthony Pirozzi, port executive Tony Gioiello promised to return with estimates on what it might cost to keep at least the northern leg of the Red Car — traveling between the cruise ship terminals and fountain to the Downtown Harbor Plaza at Sixth Street — up and running at least in the meantime.
“This is clearly an issue that’s important to the community,” said commission President Vilma Martinez. “(But) it’s clearly something we may not be able to afford.”
Pirozzi, noting that no provision for a future Red Car line was indicated on initial renderings for Sampson Way, also asked that a Red Car track line be included as at least a future option in design plans.
Anticipating the Red Car shutdown for what will at least be the next few years, port staff is working with downtown business leaders to expand a rubber-tire bus-trolley, a vehicle that many noted was much more flexible than a fixed rail car. There also are hopes that a light rail may someday be brought in to serve San Pedro, including the waterfront, which would require a different kind of rail.
It was the advent of buses and cars that doomed L.A.’s historic Red Cars, which were gone by the early 1960s.
When San Pedro’s waterfront Red Car opened on July 19, 2003 — more than three years behind schedule — throngs of people turned out to take a ride. With a limited route, ridership has been uneven since then, but the three rail cars — one restored original and two replica cars — are always packed for port festival days such as the Tall Ships, Navy Days and the lobster festival.
The cars will run up through this year’s lobster festival in September and then shut down sometime after that.
(link to article)
Has San Pedro’s waterfront Red Car reached the end of the line?
by Donna Littlejohn - Contra Costa Times
San Pedro’s charming waterfront Red Car rail trolley took years of planning, design and construction delays — and $10 million — to finally become a reality along the waterfront 12 years ago.
Now, like the vast system of Red Cars that once crisscrossed Los Angeles, it may not survive.
The trolly is set to go dark for 18 months, beginning in late September, to make way for the needed realignment of Sampson Way leading into Ports O’ Call Village.
After that, it’s return is uncertain.
Because the realignment cuts through the southern part of the 1.5-mile rail line, it would require a new track and modified, street-level cars— running parallel to the new Sampson Way — to be built at a cost of $40 million.
Port officials indicated Thursday that might simply be prohibitive.
“You have a gem here,” said Bob Bryant, one of the Red Car conductors. “This is part of San Pedro.”
Pat Nave, a retired Los Angeles deputy city attorney, called the Red Car an icon for San Pedro, noting that it is often used on marketing brochures and a consistent hit with tourists.
The unique attraction is even slated to be mentioned in the AAA’s Westways magazine at the end of summer.
Responding to a request by port Commissioner Anthony Pirozzi, port executive Tony Gioiello promised to return with estimates on what it might cost to keep at least the northern leg of the Red Car — traveling between the cruise ship terminals and fountain to the Downtown Harbor Plaza at Sixth Street — up and running at least in the meantime.
“This is clearly an issue that’s important to the community,” said commission President Vilma Martinez. “(But) it’s clearly something we may not be able to afford.”
Pirozzi, noting that no provision for a future Red Car line was indicated on initial renderings for Sampson Way, also asked that a Red Car track line be included as at least a future option in design plans.
Anticipating the Red Car shutdown for what will at least be the next few years, port staff is working with downtown business leaders to expand a rubber-tire bus-trolley, a vehicle that many noted was much more flexible than a fixed rail car. There also are hopes that a light rail may someday be brought in to serve San Pedro, including the waterfront, which would require a different kind of rail.
It was the advent of buses and cars that doomed L.A.’s historic Red Cars, which were gone by the early 1960s.
When San Pedro’s waterfront Red Car opened on July 19, 2003 — more than three years behind schedule — throngs of people turned out to take a ride. With a limited route, ridership has been uneven since then, but the three rail cars — one restored original and two replica cars — are always packed for port festival days such as the Tall Ships, Navy Days and the lobster festival.
The cars will run up through this year’s lobster festival in September and then shut down sometime after that.
(link to article)
