"New Orleans Streetcar" (Creative Commons)

About 73 percent of Downtown L.A. voters voted to tax themselves to raise funds for a streetcar through downtown, marking the end of the first step of the process. 

The measure needed two-thirds support to pass. About 2,100 of 10,000 eligible voters cast ballots in the election by the Monday deadline.

Future steps include getting environmental clearances, adopting a funding plan by the City of L.A. and securing the rest of the funding through federal grants. 

The vote on Monday was to secure funds from the Communities Facilities District, which will come from Downtown property owners and will pay for 50 percent of the cost.

Government funding to match the $62.5 million the CFD will raise will also need to be approved. 

Those living in the area had the chance to vote by mail to decide if these property owners would pay an additional tax in support of the streetcar. 

The proposed streetcar route is along Broadway, then to L.A. Live and the financial district according to the L.A. Times.  

L.A. Streetcar Inc. is the main supporter of the streetcar. The group consists of property owners, businesses and community leaders hoping to revive the streetcar. 

They list over 50 official support on their website, including big names like AEG and the University of Southern California as well as small, local businesses. 

Their support ranges from financial support, a place on the board of directors or simply catering food for one of the organization’s events downtown. 

Shiraz Tangri, general counsel for L.A. Streetcar Inc. spoke about what the non-profit organization hopes to accomplish with the streetcar.

“It’s really (a) redefinition project,” he said. “L.A. should be a walking city. We have the climate but over the last few decades L.A. has been known as a driving city.”

He also points out the streetcar’s advantages over other modes of public transportation such as the bus or subway. 

“Unfortunately when you go underground, you lose the visibility on the street,” Tangri said. 

“Streetcars are quiet. They are environmentally friendly. They move with the pace of traffic,” he added. 

According to LA Streetcar Inc., the average residential unit would pay less than $100 per year for the streetcar. 

However, L.A. Downtown News claimed there are some inconsistencies in the way that building owners will be taxed. Owners would pay based on the footprint of the building, so the number of stories won’t matter when it comes to taxes. 

The voting process received criticism because only residents in the area, but not property owners could vote, according to the L.A. Times. 

Tangri said this was not their decision, but California law.

“While we understand people’s perspective on that, we are obligated to follow California law,” he said. 

There is no organized opposition to the streetcar. 

The City Clerk is projected to certify the results on December 12. 

Reach Staff Reporter Anna Catherine Brigida here.