Unless you have been stranded on a deserted
island like Tom Hanks in "Castaway," you've
heard of Reno's plan to plow a 2.1-mile
trench through the heart of downtown
Reno, cutting downtown in half like a
melon.To say that the construction project
would disrupt business in and around the
three main downtown thoroughfares
South Virginia, Sierra and Center streets
would be an understatement.
None of the complaints about the last
year's decline in tourism and gaming have
been directed at the train tracks that run
through the heart of downtown. Instead, the
problem has been the economic downturn
associated with Sept. 11 and the proliferation
of Indian casino gambling in the northern
California market from which Reno draws its
primary customers. A construction project
dividing South Virginia Street like a demilitarized
zone would more likely than not kill off
marginal properties south of the trench. Most
notably the effected properties would be the
Siena, Fitzgeralds, the newly reopened Golden
Phoenix (old Flamingo Hilton), the old Reno
club, and the Nugget (next to Fitzgeralds).
The Club Cal Neva,Virginian Hotel Casino
and Harrah's are probably the only properties
that could weather such a long-term disruption.
The tri-properties (Circus Circus,
Eldorado, and the Silver Legacy) have the
most to gain from such a long disruption
because they have unfettered access to I-80.
The Sands Regency Hotel Casino and the
Sundowner are also positioned between the
tracks and I-80 and are apt to benefit from the
disruption as well. I am certain that the construction
plan would allow for access south of
the tracks from I-80 but the hassle would be
horrendous, especially because train traffic still
would be routed through downtown.
There are a hundred reasons for removal of
the trains rumbling through downtown should
be removed. Among the most important is
better access of emergency trains are passing
through downtown.
Traffic is another. Since the expansion of
the port of Oakland, the number trains passing
through Reno will grow substantially,
increasing the amount of time that drivers
must wait at five main crossings in downtown
Reno.
But here's the kicker: The price tag of
the project is estimated at $250 million.
That's a quarter of a billion dollars for about
11,000 feet of trench or in terms that I
can understand, more than $22,000 per foot.
Indulge me a little bit longer. Once an
eastbound train reaches Wells Avenue a
series of overpasses and underpasses separate
trains from traffic through Sparks. The area
with a problem is small. Five overpasses
much like the Wells Avenue overpass
would eliminate the problem. The complaint
about overpasses? They are unsightly.
Emergency medical and fire substations
could be constructed on both the sides of the
tracks to cover emergencies when the traffic
is stopped for trains. But, that doesn't eliminate
the inconvenience faced by waiting
motorists.
The solution I like the best is to abandon
the tracks from Sparks to Reno. An existing
track runs north of Reno through the Feather
River Canyon, down through the Sierra and
on to the Bay Area. This would allow Amtrak
and the warehouses in Sparks to serve the
area without driving the trains smack through
downtown. The reroute around town adds no
more than two or three hours to the trip. Let's
face it. Those who use rail are in no hurry. If
have you ever ridden the California Zephyr
from Reno to San Francisco you know it's a
beautiful trip but a long one, about six or
seven hours. (It's also misleading. The train
stops in an Oakland rail yard. Amtrak puts
you on a bus to San Francisco. They don't tell
you about that part.)
My point is that there is another way
perhaps a better way.
Once the tracks are abandoned, the two
cities could run light rail from Victorian
Square in Sparks to downtown Reno, stopping
at the historical train station on
Commercial Row.
For a $250 million investment in
downtown Reno you could have one heck
of a downtown redevelopment project.
This redevelopment project could include
open space, retail, restaurants, office space,
a downtown baseball park and condominiums.
Not only would we end up with a
new hub for commerce and nightlife, we
would create new jobs, as well as increasing
sales and property tax revenues. This
approach would make much more sense
than the trench itself. Let's invest in our
community. That means there should be a
return on our investment. A revitalized
downtown, increased tax revenues, and new
jobs would create such a return.
