Are streetcars about to return to American cities? United Streetcar, a division of Oregon Iron works, thinks they will. And United is putting its money where its mouth is building streetcars. And it is located in American. On their website they have a list of supporters of their work. Here is the link:
p://unitedstreetcar.com/
Streetcars running in the middle of public roadways as in the past? I find it not too likely. The trend in recent years has been toward light rail, which falls somewhere on the spectrum between streetcars and rapid transit.
Today’s philosophy is for “light rail” which is a combination of old trolley-street car running and interurban private right of way running. When in streets, light rail is often kept to the side rather than down the middle and stops are at platforms or designated areas and not at every corner as was the old custom. And when and where needed, light rail will get off the street on its own right of way, often along abandoned or little used rail lines. A good example of this would be the NJT Hudson-Bergen Light rail using former Erie, CNJ, NYC and other rights of way, its own new private right of way, as well as weaving along city streets with island stations along the sidewalk side. Newark City subway’s original line is all private right of way but the Broad St. extension is along side the streets with island protected platform stops. The River Line has actual street running but is mostly on the former PRR’s Camden and Amboy track. All three encompass every type of running…most picturesque, historical, and interesting railfan rides you’ll find anywhere.
There are cases where street runhinbg mixed with traffic is appropriate and many more cases when it is not. The dividing line between streetcar and light rail is not firm, neither the dividing line between light rail and heavy rail. The British call the Docklands system “Light Rail” but it is all third rail, high platforms, up to three-car train operation, end doors for security/inspectiors to walk between cars, and highly automated. Their Tyne and Wear Metro is also classed as light rail by LRTA, with the same characteristics, except catenary instead of third rail. Neither has any street running.
Shaker Heights, streetcar or light rail? And shares some tracks with heavy rail!
Modern streetcars run in many German cities, mostly down the street center, without difficulty.
Charlotte is building a street car line and it is the cause of a VERY acrimonious debate.
I am a supporter of rail, but I do not believe it should mix with rubber tire traffic in the street.
http://www.wsoctv.com/news/news/local/debate-over-charlotte-street-car-heating/nWFF4/
If you look at the United Streetcare website they show pictures of streetcars running in the street. Beyond that I cannot comment.
You are absolutely right, Henry. I’ve been on both. Certainly the ideal is to have a separate right of way for any rail vehicles.
John
Dave,
I grew up outside of Providence, Rhode Island. I can recall freight trains running in the street next to cars on Allens Avenue. I’m sure it wasn’t common but it did happen.
John
In New Orleans part of the St. Charles Avenue line runs in the middle of the street without problems although most of the line runs down the neutral ground between the lanes of traffic.
Dave,
According to the article you link to the issue in Charlotte is raising the money to build the line. There is no mention of mixing rubber tired and rail vehicles. I’m not sure of the solution to rubber vs rail but I agree that you raise a valid issue.
John
PS
Dave,
In Newark, NJ some streets have been made one way to accommodate bicycle lanes. That could also be done for streetcars. Two streets a block apart could be made one way in opposite directions. Streetcars would get one lane and rubber tired vehicles would get the other lane. Since it would still be possible to drive on the streets people would still have access to driveways.
John
Aw, that’s nothing. Three little words: “Jack London Square” … ;-}
Memphis has street running on the Cleveland Stt.Medical Center line, but the stops are only at protected, raised island platforms for the street running there. There is some direct street running on the River Loop in the area adjacent to Central Station. Most of the River Loop is either on the ex-IC ROW or in the Main Street Mall.
South Shore, Michigan City, freight trains too.
I guess Providence isn’t as unusual as I though. Rail and rubber shares the road in many places.
And then there are transitways with exclusive use of lanes by both light-rail-streetcars and buses but no private vehicles. The Seattle Tunnel (with stations), Pittsburgh’s Mount Washington Tunnel, Calvary’s (or is it Edmonton’s?) 7th Avenue are examples.
Dave- Calvary? My friends in Calgary will be pleased to hear that! In Munich, for example, the streetcars run in the street with regular traffic and in rights-of-way depending on the area. The clever thing they do is when facing the wrong way on a one-way street, the streetcar ducks into it’s own ROW, then back out again, often in the space of a block or two. It’s a nice system they have.
Here in Toronto, the older downtown lines are in the street, ( and out mayor hates them and wants them gone) while Spadina avenue has it’s own ROW. St Clair avenue was recently put in a ROW, the way it was when the line was built. Local people screamed about both of those projects, but they got over it, both are a lot more pleasant than before the ROW with new business opening and so forth.Sort of like the Embarcadero line in San Francisco
Some of the tracks were already installed during an unrelated upgrade to the road involved. The tracks are in the driving lanes of one of the busiest streets in city center.
The Blue Line light rail extension is also being constructed up the middle of a different very busy road. It will not run in the traffic lane, but it will create 11 more grade level crossings as it passes intersections.
John:
Every project brings out an army of people who don’t want the money spent in today’s environment. Not mentioned in this particular article are the objections of the businesses along Trade Street who are afraid of the loss of business while the road is torn up for the construction. There are also many people who don’t like the neighborhoods that will be served by the street car. When the plan was first proposed, the eastern terminus of the line was the Eastland Mall. That mall, however, has since closed.
The state governor mentioned in the article is a former mayor of Charlotte, and of the opposite party from the current mayor. He, in fact, was the Mayor of Charlotte when the street car line was proposed, so it is just politics that he is fighting it now. The line is part of a long term plan:
http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/cats/planning/2030Plan/Pages/default.aspx
Dave,
No doubt you are right. Objections to government projects that use tax monies are common. I certainly have my own objections. And everybody and his brother has an agenda. But here I was just responding to the article you posted.
Best regards, John