Streetcar revival means more mobility, more American jobs

Earlier this month, I blogged about Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff's visit to Tampa for the grand opening of the TECO Streetcar Line extension to Whiting Street. This $5.3 million project links downtown Tampa to residential areas, restaurants, hotels and entertainment. 

But the TECO Line is just one part of a wave of streetcar projects sweeping across the nation, and last week the Community Streetcar Coalition held their 2011 Streetcar Summit to assess the promising achievements of the previous year and plan for the next 12 months. The CSC includes more than thirty local governments, transit authorities, engineering firms, and rail car manufacturers.  And they are all rightfully excited about the future of streetcars in America.

At the summit, Administrator Rogoff spoke about a range of topics including future efforts to provide federal funding for streetcar projects, the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization, Buy America provisions, and emerging technologies in the streetcar market such as streetcars that operate wirelessly without overhead cables.

As the TECO Extension in Tampa demonstrates, DOT is dedicated to improving public transit services by supporting streetcar projects all across the country.  In addition to Tampa, DOT grants have boosted streetcar projects in Dallas, New Orleans, and Salt Lake City.  And you may recall from another blog earlier this month, we recently signed a TIGER grant agreement with the city of Tucson for its Modern Streetcar Project   This 3.9 mile transit line will offer an affordable, environmentally friendly transportation option to the more than 125,000 people who live, work, or attend college along the route.

One important benefit of America's streetcar revival is the return of domestic streetcar manufacturing and the jobs that industry will create.  The Tucson project, for example, has already ordered cars from the Oregon Iron Works.  And Rockwell Automation, in Wisconsin, has engineered the first domestic streetcar propulsion technology in a generation.  Three other US companies have expressed interest in manufacturing girder rail for streetcar systems.  I think you'll agree that a new segment of American manufacturing is a very promising development.

Streetcars foster livability.  They connect urban destinations and spur redevelopment of urban spaces into walkable mixed use, high-density communities.  Transportation projects like streetcars spark America’s neighborhoods into become safer, healthier and more vibrant.  In fact, in several cities, streetcars are reviving some of the very same neighborhoods they once helped create. 

Streetcars are exactly the kind of American innovation that President Obama spoke about last month in his State of the Union address when he urged us to dream big and build big.  And DOT will continue to support these critical projects.  Jobs today, livable communities and economic redevelopment tomorrow--that's how we win the future.

Comments

[Robert J. Hawkins]

Don't forget the San Diego Trolley, which has been in operation since 1981 and is still growing! Its original line is undergoing $620 million modernization and a new line extending northward to the University of California San Diego is nearly ready for construction.

[Randy A. Simes]

Why no mention of Cincinnati's modern streetcar system that will break ground in the coming months and be operational by 2013? The DOT helped get that project rolling with Urban Circulator grant money.

If those reading are not familiar with Cincinnati's system, go to http://www.CincinnatiStreetcar.com/

[Eric Metz]

The Downtown L.A. Streetcar just released it's economic study. It found that the streetcar will creative additive value (ABOVE baseline growth) of:

* $1.1 BILLION in new development
* 9,300 new jobs
* $24.5 million in new annual consumer spending
* 5,800 new hotel room bookings
* 675,000 sq. ft. of new office space
* 2,600 new residential units
* 3,600 new residents
* $47 million in new city revenue

These numbers are huge! The full report can be found here: http://www.lastreetcar.org/

[Mike Matejka]

I appreciate this greatly -- urban transit is a key to livable, vibrant communities. Plus streetcars & trolleys are fun! (From the son of a old-time, now deceased motorman who loved working on the "cars").

[hamilton]

Streetcars overseas seems to reduce stress and grid lock. I think NA has a great deal of catching up to do with public transportation. Streetcars are effecient and people friendly. Although construction to put them in is a headache for many merchants. Some end up going out of business not being able to survive the sudden downturn in customer traffic.

[Crate Covers]

Street cars are awesome. I loved traveling on them whenever I visited a city that had them. But I live in Raleigh NC and we are way behind the times when it comes to transportation of that sort. We have no street cars, no subway, no real public rail system of any type and all attempts to build one are always blocked.

[Dan Lambeth]

I live in Raleigh NC and public transportation projects can never get off the ground. It would be great to have a public transportation system that tied buses and trains together into a complete system that covered the whole metropolitan area and offered access to Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill as well as all the small towns in the area.

[Claire]

Hamilton is right, streetcars are great for traffic congestion. The streetcars (trams) here in Melbourne are a fantastic travel option for big cities with busy roads.

[Michael E. Bailey]

Streetcars are going to be very important to the overall transportation system, doing for local and regional centers what high speed rail will do for intercity transportation. The planning process is underway to reactivate the old Red Car Line from Santa Ana in Orange County to Paramount in Los Angeles County. And a Go-Local program in South Orange County is being planned that would link the cities of San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente, and Dana Point by a streetcar system. It is also very encouraging that there is new wireless technology available to power the streetcars without the need for overhead cables. Best wishes, Michael E. Bailey.

[Jim Haack]

Are you aware of the abandon rails between Milwaukee and Waukesha, that lie next to the bike rout that runs from Green field park in Milwaukee to Waukesha Wisconsin.
Since the right of way and tracks currently exist wouldn't this be a great place to demonstrate and experiment with a light rail system.
Respectfully
Jim Haack (former city of Milwaukee Appraiser retired)