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Los Angeles planning streetcar revival
This is California. In the end, LA will declare that it can’t pay for it and pass the costs on to the state, which in turn will pass the costs on to Washington. In other words, everybody else paying income tax who doesn’t live in LA and will receive no benefit whatsoever will end up paying for it. Better yet. The children and grandchildren will because the money will be borrowed from China. Welfare for streetcars and screw the kids. Why was the original system ripped out? Because almost nobody was using it and the company operating it was going broke. Back then there was no transportation welfare state. Today, never let financial reality stand in the way of another welfare system.
Streetcars in L.A. again, I love it! They should have done this a long time ago. I only hope the poeple realize what a draw this will be and how great it will be.
Since I was raised in the LA area during the time that the streetcars, including PE, saw their demise, I would like to add that this was due to the fixed rail location. Buses could be routed to where development was occurring, and in those days that was not along rail lines.
Los Angeles is looking at a $400m budget deficit…of course it will pass!
Los Angeles is looking at a $400m budget deficit…of course it will pass!
Los Angeles is looking at a $400m budget deficit…of course it will pass!
It’s about time LA gets back to its roots! At least this time the streetcar will not have to pay for road repairs only to get squeezed out.
The first comment is erroneous.
I rode streetcars in LA. They were an integral part of the transit system and were as heavily used as the busses that supplanted them.
They were victims of the postwar love affair with "progress"and partially because their operator, National City Lines, had an agenda of replacing them with busses.
Nothing is sure, but the success of other cities in bringing back trollies makes me hope that they come back.
If people decide to tax themselves to partially fund the project, it should be a “go”.
"They were victims of the postwar love affair with “progress"and partially because their operator, National City Lines, had an agenda of replacing them with buses.”
Buses were less expensive than streets cars to operate and, more importantly, to serve new areas. That’s why they were viewed as being a part of progress. They were more efficient.
Boy, am I getting tired of paying for the Interstate highways in Illinois. I never get a chance to drive on them.
Streetcars appear to be drawing interest in several quarters. They will soon return to the streets of Atlanta, L. A., and more, and seem to be fulfilling a gap. Don’t knock it until you try it.
I think that the reason no one rode on LA streetcars is that they were too crowded. The last time I rode on the V car I (late 50s) I had to stand almost the enitre trip. Same with the P.