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| 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.
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| 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
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| The Capitol Mall in 1966 |
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| M Street, Capitol Avenue, View West from Third Street, circa 1945 |
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| Sacramento Capitol Mall as it is today with two lanes and wide strip down the middle |
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