Update: Capitol Mall Redevelopment Proposal

 In April of 2021 I posted a grand vision the City of Sacramento has for the scenic Capitol Mall promenade west of the Capital up to the Tower Bridge. The city presently wants to spend $500,000 from Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) to move forward with the design. As reported by KOVR 13, the estimated cost to develop this plan could be $16 million, but if you have been paying attention to government spending (like many have) the real cost could be closer to $20 million or more.

The proposed design would be to reconfigure the street  to host large festivals and small farmers markets without shutting down the street. This would include removing 4 lanes of traffic and only have one in each direction, the center median of grass gone, wider sidewalks and another row of trees. I personally prefer  grand approach to Sacramento's Capitol Mall from the west this 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. Like I said in the previous post, what planners are doing is social engineering people 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.

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 10^th 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 8^th Street to 4^th 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

Capitol Mall Redevelopment Plan

The City of Sacramento looking into creating a stronger more vibrant connection from the Sacramento River to the Capitol by increasing activity on the Mall. The Cities currently looking into holding a design competition for the development from the riverfront to 9th Street where the Mall would become a major attraction for both residents and tourists by the year 2015. The variety of festivals and activities that regularly occur in its beautiful public spaces would draw hundreds of thousands of people annually. The magnificent public art and public works projects that connect the waterfront to the Capitol will be featured on web sites and in magazines around the world. The freeway will no longer feel like a dividing line. Instead, a tree-lined concourse with water features will lead people to and from the riverfront to enjoy the magnificent gateway to California's Capital. Key strategies the vision for the short term (1 to 3 years): · Create more events, more festivals to draw people to the Mall. · Focus on "moveable pieces",e.g. 1-5 bridge, Mall median, Lot X (southwest corner of 3rd and Capitol Mall). · Leverage existing transportation funds to get something done now that supports the long term vision. · Deploy circulator buses to enable people to move freely and easily from Capitol Mall to Downtown Plaza, K Street, Old Sacramento, the Railyards, mid-town, R Street, and West Sacramento. The Mid-term plan (3 to 5 years): · Encourage the development of select numbers of retail establishments. · Develop the CaIPERS site (northwest corner of 3rd and Capitol). · Connect Capitol Mall to the river, metaphorically, physically in all aspects. · Design highly visible, world-class gathering points for tourists and residents along the Mall. · Develop more public transit solutions to enable people to circulate from Capitol Mall to Downtown Plaza, K Street, Old Sacramento, the Railyards, mid-town, R Street, and West Sacramento. Next week on the 10th the City Council will adopt a resolution to be in partnership with the American Institute of Architects and stakeholders to develop a program and hold a design competition for a comprehensive Capitol Mall Plan from the riverfront to Capitol Mall, and the development of a project level design for a specific location. November 10th 2009 City Council Resolution Capitol Mall – Circa 1950