Last days of the streetcar in Los Angeles

The MTA Library's daily roundup of transportation news included a link to this YouTube video with clips of the streetcars rumbling around Los Angeles in the 1950s and '60s. There's a great scene showing a streetcar rolling across a bridge over a freeway. Attentive readers will recall that the Community Redevelopment Agency board voted last week to provide $5 million in funding for the effort to build a streetcar line in downtown Los Angeles -- a project expected to cost $90 million.

--Steve Hymon

Los Angeles streetcar lands $5 million in funding

NEWS ALERT: The Community Redevelopment Agency Board voted today to fund $5 million for the effort to build a streetcar line in downtown Los Angeles. Don't get too excited: The total cost is expected to be $90 million, so this is essentially seed money to help attract other public and private funds. Eric Richardson over at Blogdowntown breaks down the action from today's meeting and has this nice tidbit: Apparently some commissioners didn't know they would be voting on streetcar money today.

--Steve Hymon

Streetcar may get some funding in L.A.

Looks like the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency is going to vote Thursday to set aside $5 million for a downtown streetcar project in Los Angeles.

Don't get too excited. The project is expected to cost $90 million and will require significant funding from a private sector that hasn't exactly shoveled tons of money in the past into downtown infrastructure projects. Maybe things will change.

--Steve Hymon

The press release from Councilman Jose Huizar, who represents part of downtown L.A., is after the jump.