CA: LA Looks to Revive Mythic Past with Streetcars

"The idea when we set out on this was to connect every major destination point in downtown," Huizar said.

Despite covering a very short distance, the loop functions like a tour of every economic level of LA, from the Ritz-Carlton to Skid Row.

"Some of that line is highly dense, highly trafficked, and some of the route needs a good incentive for investors to come in," said Paul Habibi, a professor of business at UCLA, who is acting as the project's director.

The current environmental review is expected to take about a year, with groundbreaking projected for 2014 and completion for 2016.

The money, at a time when cities are fighting over every scrap, is the biggest potential stumbling block. Cost estimates have ranged from $110 million to $125 million.

Ten million dollars has already been raised through city sources. Of the remaining cost, supporters expect to get federal grants for half, but they must first pass a local tax on property owners near the route. It would require approval from two-thirds of some 7,000 registered voters.

Streetcar organizers know they'll need to work to prove to merchants and landlords that they'll get a decent return on the investment, and they hope they'll have a stronger economy when the issue comes up for a vote in 2013.

"We've been doing our homework to talk to the property owners," Huizar said. "The momentum's there and we want to take advantage."

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