Presented byPresented byTranSystemsTranSystems

Seaside Institute Streetcar 101Seaside Institute Streetcar 101 What is a Streetcar?

What is a streetcar?What is a streetcar?

A fixed guideway vehicle using steel A fixed guideway vehicle using steel wheels on steel railswheels on steel rails

It is non polluting being electrically It is non polluting being electrically operatedoperated

They have been in continuous use They have been in continuous use since 1888 with the technology since 1888 with the technology mature by 1925mature by 1925

They can look state of art or reflect They can look state of art or reflect any look the community desiresany look the community desires

Historic, Art Deco and Historic, Art Deco and ModernModern

Car Style can match a community’s visionCar Style can match a community’s vision

Little Rock Main StreetLittle Rock Main Street

New Heritage looking cars made by Gomaco

StreetcarStreetcar SignificanceSignificance Communities used the streetcar to Communities used the streetcar to

encourage inner city residents to encourage inner city residents to move outwardmove outward– EmploymentEmployment– HousingHousing– Recreation and EntertainmentRecreation and Entertainment

Streetcars were the bridge from Streetcars were the bridge from walking to expanded communitieswalking to expanded communities

The original Streetcar companies were The original Streetcar companies were organized by the community leaders:organized by the community leaders:– The banker, factory owner, CofC, MayorThe banker, factory owner, CofC, Mayor

Streetcar SignificanceStreetcar Significance Streetcars shaped Streetcars shaped

the growth of the growth of American citiesAmerican cities– The city leaders The city leaders

financed the new financed the new streetcar linesstreetcar lines

– They were the real They were the real estate developer, estate developer, the bank who gave the bank who gave the mortgage, the the mortgage, the contractor who built contractor who built the houses, the the houses, the factory owner who factory owner who needed the needed the employeesemployees

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

Why did they go away ?Why did they go away ?

Private companies could not Private companies could not compete with the autocompete with the auto

In many major cities including St. In many major cities including St. Louis the streetcar company was Louis the streetcar company was bought out by National Cities Linesbought out by National Cities Lines– They were financed by GM, Firestone They were financed by GM, Firestone

and Standard Oil to sell busesand Standard Oil to sell buses

Do other cities use Do other cities use streetcars?streetcars?

PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia San FranciscoSan Francisco SeattleSeattle Portland, ORPortland, OR Memphis, TNMemphis, TN Dallas, TXDallas, TX New Orleans, LANew Orleans, LA San Pedro, CASan Pedro, CA Tucson, AZTucson, AZ Lowell, MA Lowell, MA Kenosha, WIKenosha, WI Charlotte, NCCharlotte, NC

Tampa, FLTampa, FL Little Rock, AKLittle Rock, AK

Under constructionUnder construction Savannah, GASavannah, GA

ProposedProposed BirminghamBirmingham Lancaster, PALancaster, PA ClevelandCleveland Madison, WIMadison, WI St. Louis - DelmarSt. Louis - Delmar Council Bluffs, IACouncil Bluffs, IA

Do other cities use Do other cities use streetcars?streetcars?

PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia San FranciscoSan Francisco New OrleansNew Orleans SeattleSeattle Portland, ORPortland, OR Memphis, TNMemphis, TN Dallas, TXDallas, TX San Pedro, CASan Pedro, CA Tucson, AZTucson, AZ Lowell, MA Lowell, MA Kenosha, WIKenosha, WI Charlotte, NCCharlotte, NC

Tampa, FLTampa, FL Little Rock, AKLittle Rock, AK

Under constructionUnder construction Savannah, GASavannah, GA

ProposedProposed BirminghamBirmingham Lancaster, PALancaster, PA ClevelandCleveland Madison, WIMadison, WI St. Louis - DelmarSt. Louis - Delmar Council Bluffs, IACouncil Bluffs, IA

Why Do they use Why Do they use Streetcars?Streetcars?

For Economic DevelopmentFor Economic Development– Portland + $1,000,000,000 in Portland + $1,000,000,000 in

developmentdevelopment– Tampa = $1,000,000,000Tampa = $1,000,000,000– Little Rock = $350,000,000Little Rock = $350,000,000– Kenoska = $150,000,000Kenoska = $150,000,000

To improve mobilityTo improve mobility– Park once and circulatePark once and circulate

To enhance tourismTo enhance tourism

Why is this man smiling ?Why is this man smiling ?

Because he has seen over a Billion dollars of development since streetcars

entered Memphis

Why is Little Rock excited ?Why is Little Rock excited ?

Because developers are being challenged to keep up with the demand

What Little Rock’s Leaders What Little Rock’s Leaders SaySay

I concluded that if I had to force my I concluded that if I had to force my employees to live in the city, that we employees to live in the city, that we already lostalready lost

The key is not how many live in your The key is not how many live in your city, but what is the quality of life of city, but what is the quality of life of those that do?those that do?

A lot DT sold for $5k 5 years ago just A lot DT sold for $5k 5 years ago just sold for $25k sold for $25k “Buddy” Patrick Hays Mayor North “Buddy” Patrick Hays Mayor North Little RockLittle Rock

What Little Rock’s Leaders SayWhat Little Rock’s Leaders Say

The trolley brought additional pieces of The trolley brought additional pieces of critical mass to help the developmentcritical mass to help the development

Without a doubt the trolley contributed Without a doubt the trolley contributed to the success of downtown to the success of downtown development development County Judge Executive Bryan DayCounty Judge Executive Bryan Day

A total of $1.34 Billion of developmentA total of $1.34 Billion of development It’s the vision stupid, you have to get it It’s the vision stupid, you have to get it

across to the people who are not across to the people who are not visionary visionary Sharon Priest former Mayor Little Rock Exec Dir Sharon Priest former Mayor Little Rock Exec Dir DT LR PartnershipDT LR Partnership

Because Streetcars will Because Streetcars will benefit an area by. . .benefit an area by. . .

Aiding visitor mobility between outlying Aiding visitor mobility between outlying points and within the downtown areaspoints and within the downtown areas

Enhancing a downtown’s visibility as a Enhancing a downtown’s visibility as a tourist destinationtourist destination

Attracting further economic Attracting further economic development including restoration and development including restoration and redevelopment investmentsredevelopment investments

Because Streetcars will Because Streetcars will benefit an area by. . .benefit an area by. . .

Increasing the feasibility of perimeter Increasing the feasibility of perimeter parkingparking

Providing seamless inter-modal Providing seamless inter-modal connectionsconnections

Establishing a viable transit service Establishing a viable transit service for the residents and for other usesfor the residents and for other uses

Why do they use streetcars?Why do they use streetcars?

Kenosha is an example of a community and transit coming together

From dreamsFrom dreams

To realityTo reality

Kenosha Low cost and a catalystKenosha Low cost and a catalyst

Low cost = 2 miles, 5 cars, less than $6 Low cost = 2 miles, 5 cars, less than $6 millionmillion

A Catalyst = over $150 million in A Catalyst = over $150 million in development occurring since 2000development occurring since 2000

If we build it, will it affect our If we build it, will it affect our community?community?

Developers across the country have Developers across the country have proven that they will invest their proven that they will invest their money when they see permanencemoney when they see permanence– Bus improvements do not get the same Bus improvements do not get the same

impactsimpacts– Rail transit promotes public/private Rail transit promotes public/private

partnershipspartnerships I can not get developers to commit I can not get developers to commit

along a bus line, but I do along the along a bus line, but I do along the streetcar line streetcar line John M. Antaramian Mayor KenoshaJohn M. Antaramian Mayor Kenosha

If we build it, will they ride?If we build it, will they ride?

I have a problem getting the 98% of I have a problem getting the 98% of our citizens who do not ride a bus our citizens who do not ride a bus into a bus. I do not have a problem into a bus. I do not have a problem getting them to ride a streetcar getting them to ride a streetcar Len Len

Bandrup Kenosha transitBandrup Kenosha transit

Studies show that visitors especially Studies show that visitors especially will choose a streetcarwill choose a streetcar– Seattle lost 40% of riders with replicaSeattle lost 40% of riders with replica– Riders came back when streetcar was Riders came back when streetcar was

restoredrestored

People ride for the fun of it!People ride for the fun of it!

Streetcar VS Light Rail ?Streetcar VS Light Rail ?

The smaller magnitude of scale does not overwhelm the pedestrian

Streetcar stops can be icons – as in Seattle

Stations versus stops?

and as in Memphis

Or as simple as bus stops as in Little Rock

Are streetcars accessible for Are streetcars accessible for everyone?everyone?

Ramps and wheelchair areas in Seattle

Are streetcars accessible for Are streetcars accessible for everyone?everyone?

Wheelchair lifts in Kenosha and Little Rock

Will the streetcar addWill the streetcar add to congestion ? to congestion ?

Streetcars travel with traffic in the Streetcars travel with traffic in the same lanesame lane

Streetcars travel at the speed of trafficStreetcars travel at the speed of traffic Parking will remain, except for Parking will remain, except for

streetcar stops which will take less streetcar stops which will take less than 3 parking spaces per stopthan 3 parking spaces per stop

Streetcars obey traffic signalsStreetcars obey traffic signals

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

And here in San Francisco

And here in Toronto

Why St. Charles?Why St. Charles?

Connectivity!Connectivity!

What does it cost to build?What does it cost to build?

Typical cost of $3.5-5.5M per mile Typical cost of $3.5-5.5M per mile includesincludes– TrackTrack– StreetcarsStreetcars– Car barnCar barn– ElectrificationElectrification– Stations (stops)Stations (stops)– Engineering design and contingenciesEngineering design and contingencies

Don’t OverdesignDon’t Overdesign Simple construction is only 25% the cost of Simple construction is only 25% the cost of

Charlotte or other major light rail or streetcarsCharlotte or other major light rail or streetcars Rebuilt used equipment cuts vehicle costs by halfRebuilt used equipment cuts vehicle costs by half Combining streetwork with track construction and/or Combining streetwork with track construction and/or

overhead with lighting saves significant dollarsoverhead with lighting saves significant dollars

How will we pay for it?How will we pay for it? Federal and state funds for streetcar project Federal and state funds for streetcar project

constructionconstruction– SAFE-TEA (Federal Surface Transportation SAFE-TEA (Federal Surface Transportation

funding)funding) Transportation EnhancementTransportation Enhancement CMAQCMAQ

– Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grantsFederal Transit Administration (FTA) grants– Multi-modal project grants (transit centers)Multi-modal project grants (transit centers)– Special legislative earmark appropriationsSpecial legislative earmark appropriations– State economic development fundsState economic development funds

Local investment strategiesLocal investment strategies– Taxing District (Tax Increment Financing) Taxing District (Tax Increment Financing) – Construction bondConstruction bond– State Infrastructure BankState Infrastructure Bank

What will it cost to operate?What will it cost to operate?

Sponsorships = Sponsorships = – form a 501c3 and get sponsors from: form a 501c3 and get sponsors from: – BanksBanks– Health care organizationsHealth care organizations– Auto dealersAuto dealers

Typically less than a bus Typically less than a bus – $ 65 per vehicle hour$ 65 per vehicle hour– $ 7.40 per vehicle mile$ 7.40 per vehicle mile

How will we pay for it?How will we pay for it?

Where will operating costs Where will operating costs come from?come from?

Farebox revenueFarebox revenue Local investmentsLocal investments

– Advertising and promotionsAdvertising and promotions– SponsorshipsSponsorships– Trademarked brandingTrademarked branding– Special district taxes for the area servedSpecial district taxes for the area served

There is a cost of not providing There is a cost of not providing this service?this service?

Increase in congestionIncrease in congestion more parking problems in the historic more parking problems in the historic

district causingdistrict causing– Increased pressure for more parkingIncreased pressure for more parking– Thereby Limiting redevelopment efforts Thereby Limiting redevelopment efforts

andand– Construction of additional downtown Construction of additional downtown

parking garages rather than peripheral parking garages rather than peripheral lotslots

How long would it take?How long would it take?

Funding is the biggest questionFunding is the biggest question Design can be done in six monthsDesign can be done in six months Actual construction would take six to Actual construction would take six to

nine monthsnine months A community could have a streetcar A community could have a streetcar

operating in under two yearsoperating in under two years

If the Project Proceeds . . .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

What is the next step?What is the next step?

Agree that the streetcar will be a Agree that the streetcar will be a positive addition to the communitypositive addition to the community

Develop a funding packageDevelop a funding package Begin the next level of detailsBegin the next level of details

– Reach out to regional agencies (MPO, Reach out to regional agencies (MPO, State DOT, County…..)State DOT, County…..)

– Ridership verificationRidership verification– Preliminary engineeringPreliminary engineering

What is your What is your community Vision?community Vision?