The City of Anaheim has released a route map and other details relating to a proposed new streetcar that would connect the ARTIC (Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center) to Disneyland and the Anaheim Convention Center.
The 3.2 mile route would last 18 minutes, making 8 stops along the way. The route begins at ARTIC, which serves Amtrak, Greyhound, OCTA (Orange County Transportation Authority), ART (Anaheim Resort Transportation), Megabus and Tres Estrellas de Oro. Stops would include the Anaheim Convention Center, the Disneyland Resort and Disneyland’s planned new transportation center and parking structure just east of Harbor Boulevard.
The new structure would be about half the size of the Mickey & Friends parking structure, with 6,800 spaces. Disneyland also proposes to remove the Carousel Inn and Suites (which it purchased in 2015) and replace it with a pedestrian bridge over Harbor Boulevard.
The cost of the streetcar project is $298.7 million and not everyone is in favor of spending the money. In fact, Mayor Tom Tait says that, “even if money were no object, I still wouldn’t build it. Our transit money must relieve congestion and increase mobility, and this streetcar does neither.”
Councilwoman Kris Murray disagrees, countering, “we have a vital transit corridor, and the streetcar will help alleviate congestion on our roads in Anaheim.”
A fleet of 10 streetcars is expected to be in service by the end of 2021, with ridership of 1.25 million annually by 2035.
Disneyland officials have not take a position on the proposed streetcar.
Source/Graphic: Orange County Register
