Riverside’s plan to build the Inland area’s first modern streetcar line is taking shape, but the project’s future may depend on whether supporters can win over some of the people least likely to use it.

While anyone could ride the streetcar, the project’s first phase likely would target young people with a route running between UC Riverside, downtown and Riverside City College.

But with the prospect of community meetings and possibly a public vote on financing, plenty of people over 30 – including the entire City Council – would have be persuaded that a streetcar would benefit Riverside.

The city is studying the feasibility of a 12-mile streetcar line that proponents say would be an economic boon by spurring development of new homes, stores and offices along the route.

Consultants expect to release a draft of the study findings in late September and to discuss it at public meetings in October.

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DEVELOPMENT BOOST?

The suggested route, created with input from a committee representing residents, businesses and educational institutions, would start near UCR, head west for several blocks on West Linden Street and jog to University Avenue before continuing into downtown. It would turn southwest at Market Street/Magnolia Avenue and run to La Sierra Avenue, before turning north to Pierce Street.

At a recent meeting of the city’s ad hoc streetcar committee, consultant Ron Golem and Interim City Planner Jay Eastman stressed to committee members that the route could change and that more detailed study would occur if officials decide to build a streetcar line.

“It doesn’t make sense for us to go to the City Council and not lay out in front of them what their options are,” Eastman said. “We’re not advocating for this (project) at this point.”

Among the study’s earlier findings, the streetcar could cost more than $500 million to build and generate at least 15,000 new jobs.

At Wednesday night’s meeting, the committee saw examples of development that might work along the line, though building there would require zoning changes. The projects included a cluster of three-story townhomes, a five- or six-story building with stores at the street level and apartments above, and small professional office buildings with parking garages.

Golem said a streetcar line could push development of homes and commercial and retail space as much as 30 percent beyond what officials already project for the city.

QUESTIONS LOOM

He met some skepticism from committee member Andres Soto, who represents the Greater Riverside Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

The committee has looked at development around streetcars in other cities, Soto said, “but it’s hard for me to believe that, ‘Hey, you guys, put a streetcar there and economic development will follow.’”

Others question the need for an expensive new transit system that would follow one of today’s most-ridden bus routes. One resident who’s not on the committee said ridership on most Riverside Transit Agency buses is low.

Those are some of the people that would have to be convinced if the city moves ahead with the project – and some of them may be unlikely to ride a streetcar.

As a demographic group, people under 30 are most likely to use public transit, and ridership drops significantly among those over 60, according to a 2014 survey by TransitCenter, a New York-based research and advocacy organization.

The survey of 12,000 people in nearly 50 U.S. cities included about 750 people in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario region. Of the Inland residents, 29 percent of those under 30 said they use transit at least once a week. By comparison, 12 percent of 30- to 60-year-olds and two percent of those over 60 who said they use transit once or more weekly.

“Definitely you see across the country that millenials are more likely to use transit,” said TransitCenter program analyst Steven Higashide, but it can also be difficult to get them to vote, which makes a difference when communities are deciding on transit projects.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9461 or arobinson@pe.com