Streetcars provide fixed route transportation using electric vehicles running on steel rails. They have been in use since the late 19th century. Streetcars can encourage development and shape city growth by connecting inner cities to new housing, employment, and entertainment. Many cities have recently restored or implemented streetcar systems to aid development, tourism, and mobility. Streetcar projects typically cost $3.5-5.5 million per mile to build and less than bus systems to operate, with funding coming from various government and local sources.

1. Presented by TranSystems Seaside Institute Streetcar 101 What is a Streetcar?

2. What is a streetcar? A fixed guideway vehicle using steel wheels on steel rails It is non polluting being electrically operated They have been in continuous use since 1888 with the technology mature by 1925 They can look state of art or reflect any look the community desires

3. Historic, Art Deco and Modern Car Style can match a community’s vision

4. Little Rock Main Street New Heritage looking cars made by Gomaco

5. Streetcar Significance Communities used the streetcar to encourage inner city residents to move outward Employment Housing Recreation and Entertainment Streetcars were the bridge from walking to expanded communities The original Streetcar companies were organized by the community leaders: The banker, factory owner, CofC, Mayor

6. Streetcar Significance Streetcars shaped the growth of American cities The city leaders financed the new streetcar lines They were the real estate developer, the bank who gave the mortgage, the contractor who built the houses, the factory owner who needed the employees

7. In 1946, St. Louis Public Service bought new PCC style streetcars

8. Why did they go away ? Private companies could not compete with the auto In many major cities including St. Louis the streetcar company was bought out by National Cities Lines They were financed by GM, Firestone and Standard Oil to sell buses

9. Do other cities use streetcars? Philadelphia San Francisco Seattle Portland, OR Memphis, TN Dallas, TX New Orleans, LA San Pedro, CA Tucson, AZ Lowell, MA Kenosha, WI Charlotte, NC Tampa, FL Little Rock, AK Under construction Savannah, GA Proposed Birmingham Lancaster, PA Cleveland Madison, WI St. Louis - Delmar Council Bluffs, IA

10. Do other cities use streetcars? Philadelphia San Francisco New Orleans Seattle Portland, OR Memphis, TN Dallas, TX San Pedro, CA Tucson, AZ Lowell, MA Kenosha, WI Charlotte, NC Tampa, FL Little Rock, AK Under construction Savannah, GA Proposed Birmingham Lancaster, PA Cleveland Madison, WI St. Louis - Delmar Council Bluffs, IA

11. Why Do they use Streetcars? For Economic Development Portland + $1,000,000,000 in development Tampa = $1,000,000,000 Little Rock = $350,000,000 Kenoska = $150,000,000 To improve mobility Park once and circulate To enhance tourism

12. Why is this man smiling ? Because he has seen over a Billion dollars of development since streetcars entered Memphis

13. Why is Little Rock excited ? Because developers are being challenged to keep up with the demand

14. What Little Rock’s Leaders Say I concluded that if I had to force my employees to live in the city, that we already lost The key is not how many live in your city, but what is the quality of life of those that do? A lot DT sold for $5k 5 years ago just sold for $25k “Buddy” Patrick Hays Mayor North Little Rock

15. What Little Rock’s Leaders Say The trolley brought additional pieces of critical mass to help the development Without a doubt the trolley contributed to the success of downtown development County Judge Executive Bryan Day A total of $1.34 Billion of development It’s the vision stupid, you have to get it across to the people who are not visionary Sharon Priest former Mayor Little Rock Exec Dir DT LR Partnership

16. Because Streetcars will benefit an area by. . . Aiding visitor mobility between outlying points and within the downtown areas Enhancing a downtown’s visibility as a tourist destination Attracting further economic development including restoration and redevelopment investments

17. Because Streetcars will benefit an area by. . . Increasing the feasibility of perimeter parking Providing seamless inter-modal connections Establishing a viable transit service for the residents and for other uses

18. Why do they use streetcars? Kenosha is an example of a community and transit coming together

19. From dreams

20. To reality

21. Kenosha Low cost and a catalyst Low cost = 2 miles, 5 cars, less than $6 million A Catalyst = over $150 million in development occurring since 2000

22. If we build it, will it affect our community? Developers across the country have proven that they will invest their money when they see permanence Bus improvements do not get the same impacts Rail transit promotes public/private partnerships I can not get developers to commit along a bus line, but I do along the streetcar line John M. Antaramian Mayor Kenosha

23. If we build it, will they ride? I have a problem getting the 98% of our citizens who do not ride a bus into a bus. I do not have a problem getting them to ride a streetcar Len Bandrup Kenosha transit Studies show that visitors especially will choose a streetcar Seattle lost 40% of riders with replica Riders came back when streetcar was restored

24. People ride for the fun of it!

25. Streetcar VS Light Rail ? The smaller magnitude of scale does not overwhelm the pedestrian

26. Streetcar stops can be icons – as in Seattle Stations versus stops?

27. and as in Memphis

28. Or as simple as bus stops as in Little Rock

29. Are streetcars accessible for everyone? Ramps and wheelchair areas in Seattle

30. Are streetcars accessible for everyone? Wheelchair lifts in Kenosha and Little Rock

31. Will the streetcar add to congestion ? Streetcars travel with traffic in the same lane Streetcars travel at the speed of traffic Parking will remain, except for streetcar stops which will take less than 3 parking spaces per stop Streetcars obey traffic signals

32. Street running was common as here in Philadelphia where it still works

33. And here in San Francisco

34. And here in Toronto

35. Why St. Charles?

36. Connectivity!

37. What does it cost to build? Typical cost of $3.5-5.5M per mile includes Track Streetcars Car barn Electrification Stations (stops) Engineering design and contingencies

38. Don’t Overdesign Simple construction is only 25% the cost of Charlotte or other major light rail or streetcars Rebuilt used equipment cuts vehicle costs by half Combining streetwork with track construction and/or overhead with lighting saves significant dollars

39. How will we pay for it? Federal and state funds for streetcar project construction SAFE-TEA (Federal Surface Transportation funding) Transportation Enhancement CMAQ Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grants Multi-modal project grants (transit centers) Special legislative earmark appropriations State economic development funds Local investment strategies Taxing District (Tax Increment Financing) Construction bond State Infrastructure Bank

40. What will it cost to operate? Sponsorships = form a 501c3 and get sponsors from: Banks Health care organizations Auto dealers Typically less than a bus $ 65 per vehicle hour $ 7.40 per vehicle mile How will we pay for it?

41. Where will operating costs come from? Farebox revenue Local investments Advertising and promotions Sponsorships Trademarked branding Special district taxes for the area served

42. There is a cost of not providing this service? Increase in congestion more parking problems in the historic district causing Increased pressure for more parking Thereby Limiting redevelopment efforts and Construction of additional downtown parking garages rather than peripheral lots

43. How long would it take? Funding is the biggest question Design can be done in six months Actual construction would take six to nine months A community could have a streetcar operating in under two years

44. If the Project Proceeds . . . Redevelopment of urban cores will move ahead with vigor Congestion in downtown areas will be reduced Developers will be attracted to the community Property values will rise Tax base will be increased

45. What is the next step? Agree that the streetcar will be a positive addition to the community Develop a funding package Begin the next level of details Reach out to regional agencies (MPO, State DOT, County…..) Ridership verification Preliminary engineering

46. What is your community Vision?