They told me to take a street-car named Desire, and transfer to one called Cemeteries, and ride six blocks and get off at—Elysian Fields! A Streetcar Named Desire, Tennessee Williams
Anyone who has taken a streetcar recently may have mixed feelings about the experience. Its charm may seem a little faded as funds were allocated for more rapid transportation.
However, thanks to the Obama Administration, streetcars may soon be reintroduced into many US cities that haven’t had them for more than 50 years. In a reversal of policy, the US Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has now allocated funds for a new generation of street car transportation and 22 cities are on board for development in the next two years.
While it may not be faster, " a streetcar makes movement within a city more convenient, and helps build up relatively dense, walkable, mixed use corridors. It also reduces dependence on automobiles."
Take, for example, the city of Portland, Oregon. In the last ten years private development along their new streetcar corridor has been valued at $3.5 billion.
What is your opinion of streetcars, either sentimental or practical?
Article and Image Source: New Urban News
