Los Angeles is becoming a transit haven. The standard knowledge when I was growing up is that Californians (and especially Los Angelinos) were somehow genetically predisposed to being obsessed with their cars.

 

Now Los Angeles voters have just approved a streetcar plan for their city (on top of all the other transit they have and are building)....

 

http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/passenger/light-rail/voters-approve-la-streetcar-plan.html?channel=61

If anyplace needs a modern streetcar, it's downtown LA. But I question the huge distance between the northbound and southbound directions on the southern end. Ideally they should never be more than a block or so apart, but they're a whopping six blocks apart in this scheme. If it were up to me, the southbound track would turn west on 8th, south on Grand to 11th, then north on Hope to 7th. That way it would still hit (or at least be within a relatively easy walk of) most downtown destinations, while not involving a huge one-way loop.

 

As an aside, one of the things that has impressed me most about Los Angeles is its downtown, and how much of its historic fabric is still intact (except for Bunker Hill). While it can't possibly compare to San Francisco or Chicago, downtown LA has good bones, and I'd love to see it continue its revival.

I'd rather it stay on Hill south to Olympic so that it can serve new markets and feed them into the existing Metro Rail.

Charlotte's light rail creates boom in apartments

 

60 percent of planned apartments are within walking distance of the Lynx Blue Line

 

By Kerry Singe

[email protected]

Posted: Friday, Dec. 07, 2012

 

Apartments are sprouting at a rapid clip along Charlotte’s Lynx Blue Line in South End, as developers look to cash in on a booming rental market and cater to young professionals who want to live near uptown.

 

While commercial development across the region is seeing slow growth at best, the South End neighborhood has seen a spurt of new activity this year with more than $200 million worth of new construction being announced. Apartments near the Lynx line are powering the growth.

 

In fact, of the more than 4,000 new apartment units announced in Charlotte this year, 60 percent are within a 15-minute walk of the light-rail line, according to CoStar, a real estate analytics firm.

 

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/12/07/3711178/light-rail-attracting-apartment.html#storylink=cpy

Awesome stuff!

Small cities build streetcars, trolleys....

 

http://dc.streetsblog.org/2012/12/07/smaller-cities-taking-on-big-transit-projects/

Kansas City OKs its streetcar project!

http://fox4kc.com/2012/12/12/voters-approve-downtown-streetcar-plan-but-opponents-not-giving-up-fight/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Next stop for Kansas City streetcar: Construction

http://www.planetizen.com/node/59719

Not sure what Michigan's right to work law has to do with KC streetcars. ???

Not sure what Michigan's right to work law has to do with KC streetcars. ???

 

Oops, sorry about that! Link is corrected above. EDIT: and posted here since this message scrolled over on to the next page........

http://www.planetizen.com/node/59719

^Question? How does a 1% sales tax increase and property tax increase only fund a streetcar? Didn't metro moves have a 1% sales tax increase that would have funded light rail for most of the region(Hamilton County)?

^Question? How does a 1% sales tax increase and property tax increase only fund a streetcar? Didn't metro moves have a 1% sales tax increase that would have funded light rail for most of the region(Hamilton County)?

 

The vote was cast only in a downtown precinct where the project is located. That one precinct is funding the entire construction and operation of a two-mile, $100 million streetcar. If this was a citywide or countywide vote, much more could have been built and operated. But they wanted to start with something small so that the success of this rail project could spur lots of "me-too" responses in the rest of the city or county.

Hmmm. Is that a state thing where you can set a different sales tax for different parts of the county of city? I heard of TIF used in Ohio for small districts.

In ohio, only counties can Increase sales taxes & they only are received by the state (5.5%) and counties (the remaining percentage). Cities get nothing and can't add their own sales tax.

>Didn't metro moves have a 1% sales tax increase that would have funded light rail for most of the region(Hamilton County)?

 

It was 1/2 cent in Hamilton County.  Metro would have retained its .3% Cincinnati earnings tax. 

I posted my suggestion after the article.......

 

The Next Page: Go north, light rail

December 23, 2012 12:26 am

By Kevin M. Creagh and Steve DiMiceli /

 

If the North Shore Connector was built solely to serve as stops for the North Shore and Allegheny stations, then it was a colossal waste of more than $500 million.

 

However, we do not believe that was the intent of the project. Early descriptions of the project referred to it as a multimodal center where different forms of transportation would be able to access the North Shore station. It would be sort of a mini Grand Central Station for Pittsburgh.

 

To that end, its most logical next step would be to serve as a jumping-off point for light rail service to the North Hills.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/opinion/perspectives/the-next-page-go-north-light-rail-667560/?print=1

Twin Cities' Central Corridor attracts $1.2 billion in real estate development

 

More than $1.2 billion in development has occurred along the Twin Cities' Central Corridor light-rail route — even before trains begin transporting riders in 2014.

 

Eighteen residential and commercial/retail developments worth more than $275 million began construction or entered the planning stage in 2012 along the line. The projects include nearly 2,300 housing units and more than 109,000 square feet of commercial/retail space. That's in addition to the nearly 40 developments worth more than $944 million that include 5,1000 housing units and 7.1 million square feet of space that opened, were under construction or in the planning stage in 2011, Metropolitan Council officials said in a prepared statement.

 

This year, eight projects began construction or entered the planning stage near St. Paul, and another 10 began construction or entered the planning stage in Minneapolis.

 

Read more at:  http://www.progressiverailroading.com/prdailynews/news.asp?id=33780

Streetcars in Other Cities

 

Washington DC and Tucson, AZ have streetcar projects that are shovel-ready, while funding has been approved for projects in Sacramento, Detroit, and Milwaukee. These are among the almost 50 streetcar projects pending in the United States today. The below chart shows additional streetcar systems in the preliminary and advanced planning stages:

 

 

Rather disheartening to learn Cincinnati's streetcar is still in the preliminary planning stage.

^ The first phase is funded.

Rather disheartening to learn Cincinnati's streetcar is still in the preliminary planning stage.

 

Not accurate.

I was being sarcastic, folks. The people who made that graphic need to do better research. Makes me wonder what else they got wrong.

I was being sarcastic, folks.

 

Sarcastic emoticon: ;)  Or maybe: :-P

Yet another delay for DC's H St. Streetcar. The tracks and station platforms have been in place for a couple years now, yet no other infrastructure has even started to take shape.

 

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/DC-Streetcars-Not-Likely-Before-2014-188913511.html

Watching that report, you have NO IDEA why there has been a delay.  TV News is such total crap. 

^ The first phase is funded.

 

You hope. It has only been within the last month I saw they were floating bond issues to pay for part of the first phase. I hope your confidence is warranted.

Anaheim considers Disney-area streetcars

 

Plan would take passengers from ARTIC transit hub to Disneyland, Convention Center, other stops on 3.2-mile route.

By ERIC CARPENTER / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

 

ANAHEIM – Now that construction has begun on a major transportation hub near Angel Stadium, the city is looking at a $318 million plan to move thousands of tourists and employees to Disneyland and other destinations nearby.

The best way city planners say to move those people: streetcars. Think San Francisco – cars driven on a rail, powered by electricity – but without the vintage open-air feel or the clanging bells. Instead, the streetcars They would have a sleek, modern look, fully enclosed, similar to those used in Portland, Ore., and in European cities.

 

Anaheim's propsed streetcar system would consist of 10 vehicles that would travel a 3.2-mile route in about 18 minutes. The streetcars would look similar to this European streetcar, according to city officials.

 

The City Council on Tuesday night reviewed the concept of streetcars that would run on a fixed guideway to Disneyland, shops and restaurants of GardenWalk mall and the Anaheim Convention Center, among other stops. Several council members expressed general support for the idea but ultimately asked for more time to study all alternatives.

The idea of streetcars is being recommended by city staff over an elevated monorail, which was Anaheim's initial focus. The system, called Anaheim Rapid Connection, would run on a 3.2-mile track mostly along Katella Avenue from the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center, the transportation hub under construction and set to open in 2014. The idea of ARC is to provide a cheap – maybe even free – ride for the millions of tourists who visit Disneyland annually and for some of the 51,000 workers in the 5-square-mile area in and around the Anaheim Resort.

list of funded Streetcar systems.

 

Downtown LA

http://www.streetcar.la/

 

Opening in 2015

 

 

 

Tuscon, AZ

http://www.tucsonstreetcar.com/

 

Under construction. opening late 2013

 

 

Kansas City, MO

http://www.kcstreetcar.org/

 

Opening in summer 2015

 

 

Detroit, MI

 

Detroit M1 Streetcar opening in 2015-2016

 

http://www.m-1rail.com/

 

 

 

The graphic biker16 posted also misses the Phoenix/Mesa (Mill Ave) Streetcar, which is in prelim/advanced planning phase.

PA: A-K Commuter Rail Proposal Can Look at T for Inspiration

JODI WEIGAND

SOURCE: THE VALLEY NEWS-DISPATCH

CREATED: FEBRUARY 5, 2013

 

The champion of the proposed commuter rail from Lower Burrell to Pittsburgh has long held up the River LINE in New Jersey as the model for development that will happen in the region if the line becomes a reality.

 

Robert Ardolino, president of Urban Innovations, a Pittsburgh-based consulting firm, believes a commuter line would bring business and housing development to downtown New Kensington, Verona and the Lawrenceville section of the city.

 

But Pittsburgh has had a commuter rail line for almost 30 years — the T — which runs from Downtown to the far South Hills suburbs. Has the T brought commercial and residential development to the communities it serves?

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.masstransitmag.com/news/10873816/pa-a-k-commuter-rail-proposal-can-look-at-t-for-inspiration

Minneapolis: Streetcar plans coming into focus

 

http://finance-commerce.com/transit/2013/02/08/streetcar-plans-coming-into-focus/

 

 

 

Streetcar plans coming into focus

 

Feb 8th, 2013 by Drew Kerr

 

Planners in St. Paul and Minneapolis are getting a little better idea of what a rebuilt streetcar system could look like.

 

In St. Paul, consultants working on a yearlong study of potential streetcar corridors have narrowed in on 16 possible streets which they believe offer the most promise. A map of those corridors is below; criteria used to come up with the list is explained in greater detail in this presentation that will be made at the St. Paul Transportation Committee on Monday.

 

City officials hope to come up with cost and ridership estimates in the coming months, and to narrow in on one or two priority corridors by September.  How all of this gets paid for remains to be determined.

 

MOre info @ http://stpaul.gov/index.aspx?NID=4872

Well, the stations include LRT....

 

BART proposes to spend $900 million to rebuild, expand two stations! Before you revolt from sticker shock, these two stations are used by more than 150,000 riders per day....

 

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/matier-ross/article/BART-considers-rebuilding-2-SF-stations-4267383.php

Charlotte LYNX light-rail extension groundbreaking is tomorrow........

 

https://twitter.com/CATSRideTransit/status/355779101816131584/photo/1

 

How Utah Turned Its Unpopular Public Transit System Into a Hit

Eric Jaffe

 

 

It wasn't always the case that Utah was in a hurry to build public transit. In 1992, voters rejected a tax measure that would have funded a light rail line in Salt Lake Valley. In 1997, at the groundbreaking for what would become the successful TRAX system, protestors held up signs that read: "Light Rail Kills Children." Not exactly a warm welcome.

 

Today, however, TRAX and transit are such integral parts of the Salt Lake metro that it's hard to imagine life without them. In 2006, voters easily approved a quarter-cent sales tax hike (64-36) so that the expansion (dubbed FrontLines 2015) could finish up by 2015 instead of 2030. And that $2.5 billion, five track project was completed this August — a full two years early.

 

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2013/10/how-utah-turned-its-unpopular-public-transit-system-hit/7298/

Cities Set Their Eyes on Light Rail

BY STATELINE | NOVEMBER 13, 2013

Daniel C. Vock

 

Tucson has built four-mile-long streetcar tracks that will run between the University of Arizona campus and downtown. Only two of the eight cars that will be used to ferry passengers every 10 minutes have arrived, and operations will not start until next year.

 

But local business leaders say the streetcar has already revived the center of this sprawling, artsy city of 524,000. Roughly 150 businesses have opened their doors along the route in the last five years, and the once-dormant area is in the middle of a $230 million construction boom, according to the Downtown Tucson Partnership. The group estimates that 2,000 jobs have been created or relocated to the area.

 

“The fact that Tucson could reinvent itself in the middle of the worst recession to hit the state since 1928 is astonishing,” said Michael Keith, CEO of the downtown group.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.governing.com/news/headlines/Maybe-streetcars.html

Minneapolis pursues streetcar rather than improve bus service

by Curtis Gilbert, Minnesota Public Radio

September 24, 2013

 

A Minneapolis City Council committee voted Tuesday to pursue a streetcar line rather than improve bus service along Nicollet Avenue.

 

The proposed "starter line" would run from Lake Street up Nicollet and across the Hennepin Avenue bridge to 5th Street Northeast. The 3.5 mile line would cost up to $200 million. The city will need federal money to make it a reality.

 

Enhancing bus service on those streets would run a quarter of the cost of rail. But city staff concluded streetcars had more public support and more economic development potential.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/09/24/minneapolis-city-council-votes-to-pursue-streetcar?fb_action_ids=588431251211274&fb_action_types=og.recommends&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%5B676750159004128%5D&action_type_map=%5B%22og.recommends%22%5D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D

20 years from now other cities will be developing and finishing more rail projects.

 

We will have 5 BRT routes including a converted green/blue line.

 

:-(

 

If I were to ever leave the city of Cleveland, it would be due to the lack of walkable complete urban neighborhoods, poor planning(demolitions, setbacks, parking lots, etc), and a poor transportation network. Actual things that affect daily life, not talking points like nicer stadium scoreboards, a good orchestra(which I am happy we have) and a new convention center.

 

KC city council approves $19 million to accelerate #streetcar construction. No muss, no fuss.

 

http://m.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2013/11/26/kc-council-19m-amendment-streetcar.html?ana=twt&r=full

 

On a tombstone it may be written: Here lies Ohio's economy whose leaders waited for other states to slow down so it could catch up.

Meanwhile in Denver....

 

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_24600461/denvers-northern-suburbs-welcome-rtd-rail-line

It interesting because everyone I know who lives in Lake County, many older as well, would love to have a train to downtown. I think a commuter train along the lakefront would do very well. An extension of the red line would fail IMO.

It interesting because everyone I know who lives in Lake County, many older as well, would love to have a train to downtown. I think a commuter train along the lakefront would do very well. An extension of the red line would fail IMO.

I'm not sure what that has to do with Streetcars, but I mostly agree. The only thing I'd add is that ridership would be even higher if the route also stopped in UC. I think a Red line extension into Euclid isn't the worst idea (a HL extension would be far worse) and accomplishes many of the same goals, but without including Lake County it won't work.

20 years from now other cities will be developing and finishing more rail projects.

 

We will have 5 BRT routes including a converted green/blue line.

 

:-(

 

If I were to ever leave the city of Cleveland, it would be due to the lack of walkable complete urban neighborhoods, poor planning(demolitions, setbacks, parking lots, etc), and a poor transportation network. Actual things that affect daily life, not talking points like nicer stadium scoreboards, a good orchestra(which I am happy we have) and a new convention center.

 

 

... and don't forget the future Red Line/Opportunity Corridor BRT to Stokes-Windermere ... perhaps it will be dubbed the “Calabrese Line.”

 

Seriously, it’s always depressing to read how other cities are moving forward into the 21st Century with bold new LRT and commuter rail initiatives, while Cleveland remains stuck in the 1950s of urban freeway expansion, strip shopping centers, cul-de-sac housing, large surface parking lots and big box shopping areas.  It's going to be a test of wills to see if RTA will even support the .3 mile extension of the Blue Line across the Van Aken Warrensville intersection.  We have a deadly transit brew here: a bunch of either misguided or wrongheaded (Calabrese) leaders or those who don’t have a clue (Jackson) coupled with a lack of those strong enough to advocate for what we and the public knows is right: expanded rail, less highways and parking…

 

I think it's unfair to say Cleveland is so far behind other places in its commitment to rail transit. If I'm not mistaken, Cleveland has had rail transit continuously in one form or another since 1860--153 years--and significant investments continue to be made in the rail system, including the recent track rebuilding projects in the airport tunnel and on the S-curve, along with recent, current, or soon-to-break-ground station rebuilding projects on all lines--at W. 65, W. 117, Puritas, E. 55, Cedar, Woodhill, and Lee-Van Aken--and the replacement of the E. 120 station with a new station at Mayfield. All of this investment would not be taking place if there were some secret plan to replace large stretches of the rail system with BRT. The recent return of the Waterfront Line to daily service is also notable.

 

I would also like to see the rail system expanded, but taking care of the substantial rail system that we already have is also important and must take priority. Some of the recently replaced stations had been in existence since the Red Line's opening in 1955, had never had any significant upgrades throughout their existence, and were barely sufficient even when they were new. The new stations are far superior.

Fair points, Vince_908. We're just eager for Cleveland's system to be bigger and better.

 

FYI, the 100th anniversary of the first section of the current "Rapid" system is coming up.

 

Now back on topic! :)

9:56 AM MON NOVEMBER 18, 2013

NFTA studying transit options for Buffalo-Amherst corridor

By CHRIS CAYA

 

Given the large number of people currently using public transportation between Amherst and downtown Buffalo, a study is being done to determine what the best options are for meeting future demand.

 

The study's focus is the Amherst-Buffalo corridor because of the growth in and around the University at Buffalo's North Campus and downtown Buffalo. NFTA Director of Public Affairs Douglas Hartmayer says that area has the highest transit ridership and potential for future growth in the region.

 

"You have the emerging Buffalo-Niagara Medical Campus already a force of its own, but now you add the Medical School at Main and Allen atop our rail station, ou add Children's Hospital relocating, and you're going to have upwards of 17,000 additional jobs in that area. People are going to need to get there, and the best and most efficient way to do that is by way of public transportation," Hartmayer says.

 

Options to be considered could include new bus service, extending Metro Rail, or rapid transit by bus.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://news.wbfo.org/post/nfta-studying-transit-options-buffalo-amherst-corridor

9:56 AM MON NOVEMBER 18, 2013

NFTA studying transit options for Buffalo-Amherst corridor

By CHRIS CAYA

 

Given the large number of people currently using public transportation between Amherst and downtown Buffalo, a study is being done to determine what the best options are for meeting future demand.

 

The study's focus is the Amherst-Buffalo corridor because of the growth in and around the University at Buffalo's North Campus and downtown Buffalo. NFTA Director of Public Affairs Douglas Hartmayer says that area has the highest transit ridership and potential for future growth in the region.

 

"You have the emerging Buffalo-Niagara Medical Campus already a force of its own, but now you add the Medical School at Main and Allen atop our rail station, ou add Children's Hospital relocating, and you're going to have upwards of 17,000 additional jobs in that area. People are going to need to get there, and the best and most efficient way to do that is by way of public transportation," Hartmayer says.

 

Options to be considered could include new bus service, extending Metro Rail, or rapid transit by bus.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://news.wbfo.org/post/nfta-studying-transit-options-buffalo-amherst-corridor

 

This is very good news.  Buffalo built a short, yet effective, LRT part-subway up the gut of the city, then proceeded (for 30+ years) turn its back on it.  Though short, we know it’s far more effective than Cleveland’s LRT by a long shot, connectivity/passenger-wise.  Let’s hope NFTA can get off the schnide and move forward with the extension into Amherst … which hopefully will lead to others, such as branch to Buffalo’s airport, by way of its beautiful though abandoned/crumbling Buffalo Central Depot.

 

At least they are committed to building something!

 

San Antonio Can't Decide If It's Building Streetcars or Light Rail

Eric Jaffe

 

 

In 2004, San Antonio residents overwhelmingly approved a quarter-cent sales tax to pay for local transportation projects. The money could be used for any number of purposes — from road upgrades to "advanced transit services" — with the exception of light rail. Voters shot down a light rail project several years earlier, and VIA Metropolitan Transit, the agency in charge of the funds, promised not to pursue another one.

 

Fast-forward a decade. That decision is at the heart of a bewildering debate over whether "streetcars" and "light rail" are the same thing. VIA has planned a 5-mile streetcar system for downtown San Antonio that's scheduled to open by 2017. Opponents contend that none of the sales tax funds (known as Advanced Transportation District funds) should help pay for it under the original "light rail" stipulation.

 

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2013/12/san-antonio-cant-decide-if-its-building-streetcars-and-light-rail/7792/

 

For now, [Gonzalez] sees a situation rife with irony. For one thing, the streetcar opponents who claim to be fighting for taxpayers are actually costing the city money to deal with the lawsuits and the bond delay. Beyond that, the real losers at the moment are not streetcar advocates at all but the bus riders who use the transit centers.

 

"We've tried to make that point," says Gonzalez, "but I'm not sure people are listening."

 

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2013/12/san-antonio-cant-decide-if-its-building-streetcars-and-light-rail/7792/

 

 

Sounds familiar... It's unfortunate that such things have to happen to these projects. Thanks for sharing, T_C_K.

^Very frustrating.  You would think that (some) SA officials would pull their heads out of their arses and look down the highway at their Texas neighbors in Dallas, Houston and Austin to see the positive benefits of their expanding rail transit systems.  SA has so much potential with it's beautiful Riverwalk downtown, you'd think they'd be working on ways, like LRT, to quickly get large numbers of people to/from the area.