Streetcar to DLR

[Tom Morrow]

Proposed streetcar to Disneyland Resort

Anaheim considers Disney-area streetcars Orange County Register The Anaheim City Council on Tuesday night reviewed the concept of streetcars that would run on a fixed guideway to Disneyland, shops and restaurants of GardenWalk mall and the Anaheim Convention Center, among other stops. The system, called Anaheim Rapid Connection, would run on a 3.2-mile track mostly along Katella Avenue from the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center, the transportation hub under construction and set to open in 2014. The idea of ARC is to provide a cheap – maybe even free – ride for the millions of tourists who visit Disneyland annually and for some of the 51,000 workers in the 5-square-mile area in and around the Anaheim Resort. If the recommended streetcar plan goes forward, 10 streetcars in all would operate on the tracks in Anaheim, taking about 18 minutes to travel from one end to the other. The streetcars would have a sleek, modern look, fully enclosed, similar to those used in Portland, Ore., and in European cities. The idea of streetcars is being recommended by city staff over an elevated monorail, which was Anaheim's initial focus. continue by Eric Carpenter complete article

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Submitted by Ezra

[TimmyII]

One word...AWESOME! I'd ride!

[disneylover]

^They for sure need to do SOMETHING with the congestion, and parking issues they are having. If it's free, I'd be shocked. But, it would be awesome! And make staying at a non walking distance hotel all the more easier.

[Executioner]

Still think they should do the PeopleMover concept from different areas around the resort. Never have to wait for a car since one is right behind the next! Would be so much smarter and easier.

[Tom Morrow]

Anaheim council backs streetcar plan

Anaheim council OKs $319 million plan for streetcars Plan to run streetcars between transportation hub and popular tourist attractions could be running by 2018 Orange County Register The City Council voted 3-2 Tuesday to support the concept of building a $319 million streetcar system that could transport thousands of employees and millions of tourists each year. So far, the city has secured $24.6 million in transportation funds for the project and now will turn its sights on securing the remaining $294 million. At least half that money is expected to come from federal funding, through the Federal Transit Administration's "New Starts" program. Anaheim will have to compete for that funding among cities across the nation looking to fund similar projects. Other funds would come from Measure M2, the county's renewed half-cent sales tax for transportation projects and from other federal and state grants. Up to 10 percent of the project – or about $32 million – would have to come from "local sources," city planners said. The rail line would consist of 10 streetcars transporting passengers from the ARTIC transit hub, expected to open in 2015, west along a 3.2-mile track up Katella Avenue and along Harbor Boulevard with stops at Platinum Triangle, GardenWalk mall, Disneyland Resort and the Convention Center. City officials hope to keep the cost of riding the line to a small fee or even free to encourage maximum ridership. Operating costs would be covered primarily by advertisements at streetcar stops and inside the cars and from a 2 percent tourism-improvement-district tax on hotel bills in the area, city planners said. by Eric Carpenter complete article

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Submitted by Ezra