The new proposal includes 1.8 miles of track where four Siemens S700 streetcars \u2014 single-cab versions of the low-floor vehicles used on the Gold Line \u2014 would operate along portions of Seventh, Eighth, H and N streets in downtown Sacramento and Old Sacramento. Three new stations, including one near the Athletics\u2019 temporary home at Sutter Health Park, would be constructed, and six existing stations would be modernized, according to RT\u2019s presentation.<\/p>\n
McCoy noted West Sacramento\u2019s bid for a Major League Baseball team<\/a> and said improved transit could support that effort. He said he believes the streetcar project could help make the bid more competitive, though he added he was not familiar with the details of the process.<\/p>\n The new line would provide direct connections to major destinations, including Golden 1 Center, the Crocker Art Museum, the Railyards development and the State Capitol. It would also connect with existing light rail service, Amtrak and RT regional bus routes.<\/p>\n The project would also transform the Tower Bridge from four lanes to two with a rail line in the center and 6-foot bike lanes on either side.<\/p>\n Funding in place, bids still ahead<\/p>\n While the streetcar project has been years in the making, RT officials said they are optimistic after securing $164.3 million in funding.<\/p>\n \u201cIn most construction projects, funding is usually your biggest hurdle,\u201d RT spokesperson Jessica Gonzalez said. \u201cThis is the closest we have ever been.\u201d<\/p>\n Of that funding, $92.3 million comes from federal sources, $33 million from local sources and $39 million from the state, Gonzalez said. To use the federal funding, construction must begin by summer 2027.<\/p>\n \u201cAt this time, we\u2019re not looking at it as a challenge,\u201d Gonzalez said, referring to the timeline. \u201cIt\u2019s just moving us forward.\u201d<\/p>\n RT expects to seek construction bids before the end of the year. That process, which includes updated cost projections, will help determine whether the funding secured will be enough to complete the project \u2014 an issue raised repeatedly during Wednesday\u2019s workshop at the West Sacramento Community Center.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is one of those situations where we have checked, we have double-checked… so we feel confident in the numbers,\u201d McCoy said, referring to both RT and federal oversight project manager evaluations. \u201cBut it\u2019s always going to be a waiting game to see what happens when the bids come in.\u201d<\/p>\n McCoy referred to the bid process for I Street bridge replacement, where contractors submitted bids that were at least $136 million more than West Sacramento expected<\/a>. The original estimate was $260 million.<\/p>\n The Wednesday workshop was the third and final public forum RT hosted to discuss the streetcar project and gather community feedback. The first two were held at the agency\u2019s auditorium on Q Street, with the second also offered virtually. RT also had a public comment period<\/a> open early this year that ended in February.<\/p>\n Residents question costs, ridership<\/p>\n Fair Oaks resident and Sacramento property owner Mike McWhirter raised concerns about costs, citing an Orange County streetcar project that cost more than $150 million per mile and exceeded its budget by nearly $400 million, according to the news outlet Voice of OC<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s evident from all other civil projects as of recently that cost overruns are commonplace, and their estimates are very old,\u201d McWhirter said, adding that he believes the rail line is an outdated project concept. \u201cThe question is: Where will they get the additional money if they face significant cost overload?\u201d<\/p>\n West Sacramento has agreed to cover any cost overruns, McCoy said.<\/p>\n West Sacramento resident Katrina Sutton, who said she has experience with transit projects, said she is \u201cgenerally supportive\u201d of the proposal but has questions about how it will be completed and remains skeptical about projected ridership.<\/p>\n \u201c(I\u2019m) cautiously optimistic,\u201d Sutton said, \u201cbut I wouldn\u2019t be shocked if it gets stalled for another 20 years.\u201d<\/p>\n RT also addressed previous outreach events comments, including the elimination of parking spots and loading zones, and described some drafted solutions.<\/p>\n Service could begin as early as the end of 2029, officials said.<\/p>\n Related Stories from Sacramento Bee<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/RAIL-CAR-TOWER-BRIDGE.jpg\" "\\"RAIL-CAR-TOWER-BRIDGE.jpg\\"")
A rendering shows a streetcar traveling over the Tower Bridge. Sacramento Regional Transit is seeking community input over the next three weeks on the proposed $164 million Downtown Riverfront Streetcar Project, which would create the first local rail line over the bridge and connect existing light rail lines to Sutter Health Park and Old Sacramento. Sacramento Regional Transit <\/p>\n
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