Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Sausalito Streetcar?

Update: Another article discusses 5 possible future lines. 295bus covers this as well.

Two architects in Sausalito are proposing a streetcar system to Mill Valley. According to the Marin Independent Journal:

They also have gotten the attention of elected leaders in Southern Marin, who say the trolley plan could work. Money, of course, will largely determine whether the trolley system ever becomes reality. Rex and Nichol envision a trolley that would run on tracks built into existing roads and flow with traffic. They would be powered by a single overhead electric wire.

They figure it would cost $20 million to $50 million to get a demonstration line up and running from the Depot in Mill Valley to ferry terminal in Sausalito in five years. Trolleys would stop every quarter or half mile along Miller Avenue and then Bridgeway. Trolleys eventually could serve Novato, San Rafael, Fairfax, San Anselmo, Ross and Tiburon.

I've created a map of the route. In terms of TOD and Redevelopment, it doesn't seem like a bad one. The only problem I see is that this is a heavily traveled route by car with sections prone to auto backups. Since this is a main route, it doesn't seem wise to be in the street. There is however sufficient space in the median in many places. It also allows people who live in Mill Valley and Sausalito to get to the ferry to San Francisco fairly easily without a car and is actually close to most of the developed area. Take a look below.

NorthBayStreetcar

1 comment:

Unknown said...

The same route was served by an electric interurban (the Northwestern Pacific) from 1903 to 1940, with ferry connection from Sausalito to San Francisco. Unfortunately, the old right of way isn't intact.