Monday, April 12, 2021

Capitol Mall Redevelopment Project

Sacramento Capitol Mall as it is today with two lanes and wide strip down the middle

The grand approach to Sacramento's Capitol Mall from the west is a scenic promenade with a two lanes of traffic and a wide center strip devoted to vegetation. Today as we drive across the Tower Bridge, local residents as well as visitors have a clear view of the Capitol.

In 2014, California law makers started mulling over the idea to transform and makeover Capitol Mall, the strip between 10th Street and the Sacramento River. In 2019 the effort picked up steam with the state Senate seeking a resolution to both rename the circle and plaza at the head of the mall after legendary California politician Willie Brown Jr.

The proposed changes to Capitol Mall are, planners want to put vehicle traffic through the middle of the mall and cut the number of lanes in half. The current belief is that the roadway is much wider for the low traffic it sees. But ever since the Golden 1 Center opened, Capitol Mall has been very active before and after events, especially for those looking to pick up an Uber ride away from the congestion that builds up on both L & J Streets. Any times when there is an event at the golden 1 Center, Capitol Mall is a very busy stretch of road because L Street is closed to thru traffic from 8th Street to 4th Streets. Reducing the lanes to one lane in each direction will create more of a backup on Capitol Mall as drivers are waiting for their passengers. It happens a lot on K Street and planners should learn from this mistake. What planners are doing is social engineering to change driving habits. After Capitol Mall has the number of lanes reduced, traffic will be worse, hoping this congestion get you out of your car and take public transit instead. Manipulating people, changing behavior. This is happening on many downtown streets, often referred to as a road diet.  Your tax dollars at work as cities shut traffic lanes. On many streets and roads, road diets don't leave adequate capacity for cars and trucks. That pushes traffic onto other streets.

An early rendering of the Capitol Mall transformation shows the changes to the roadway

If the redevelopment of Capitol Mall is approved, construction of the project is estimated to cost up to $16 million, but city planners won’t be able to apply for and receive funds until 2022, designs for the project will also be finalized by 2022, and should the project remain on schedule, construction will begin in 2023. Final Plans, Specifications, Estimates begin this spring thru summer 2022.

Back in 1966, both the city and the former Sacramento Redevelopment Agency cleared away 15 square blocks in what was originally the business district. This included the beautification of Capitol Mall when completed in 1968. I personally enjoy the current design of the Mall. The grandapproach of the Capitol when crossing the Tower Bridge, unobstructed view with a lawn median.

“Such a wide street approach to Sacramento opening into beautiful Capitol Park together with the city’s beautiful trees, would be something of which Sacramento could be well proud.” Gov. C.C. Young, 1928

The Capitol Mall in 1966
M Street, Capitol Avenue, View West from Third Street, circa 1945

Sacramento Capitol Mall as it is today with two lanes and wide strip down the middle


2 comments:

  1. I don’t get why they have to make the mall a grand project.
    It’d be nice if they just replaced the old utilitarian street lamps with new ones with some historical reference - like those on Alhambra Blvd.
    The center median would benefit from some flowers or low flowering bushes to give it some color.
    I really hope they have finally taken down that hideous freeway type sign that read “Marysville” with an arrow.
    It was useless and a blight.

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  2. Just turn on the big water fountain . Should be good enough!

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