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Tacoma Streetcar Gaining Traction, Come to the Open House

· Posted Monday June 5, 2006 by jamie

After some press in a Voelpel column last week, the Tacoma Streetcar project came back in force yesterday with a Sunday opinion piece.

This idea certainly seems to be gaining steam, including the favor of some in city government. I, for one, am fascinated by the idea, though I do think we shouldn’t toss out the light rail extension down Sixth Avenue that is a proposed portion of Sound Transit Phase II. Yes, there are some caveats here, but it would be regionally funded and could reduce the need for transfers (the bane of commuters). Various city streetcars could be combined with this system to provide spurs off of the Sixth Avenue line. But that’s just, like, my opinion, man. There’s a lot of give and take, and some discussion needs to happen to reconcile the various options.

Regardless, I think streetcars in some form would be a great addition to Tacoma, and if you agree, you might think about checking out the open house for Tacoma Streetcar this coming Thursday:

Bring Back the Streetcar!

Join us for an Open House
Thursday, June 8th, 6:30-7:30pm
at Tacoma Public Library’s main branch

Join the grassroots movement for a “new” kind of transit system – one that’s fun, doesn’t pollute, is neighborhood friendly, and best of all won’t break the bank!

At one time, Tacoma had a streetcar system. Now, over 100 years later, the need for a user-friendly mass transit system is upon us again.

The intent of Tacoma Streetcar is to:

  • Reduce traffic and auto emissions
  • Increase participation in public transit
  • Encourage economic revitalization
  • Encourage and increase tourism
  • Provide a sense of historic preservation

VISION: Tacoma is undergoing a long-overdue revitalization. The next two decades will add thousands of new jobs, households, and retail establishments to the city — so good transportation will be key.

Streetcars are a proven catalyst in rejuvenating urban neighborhoods, providing quick, accessible transport to the resources and amenities that attract people to those districts.

PROPOSAL: This proposal is for a fleet of vintage or replica streetcars running throughout the city. The proposed routes would connect with the Sound Transit regional light rail, the downtown Link, and would connect neighborhoods together in a way that currently does not exist. Routes would be developed in phases to spread out the cost over time.

HISTORY: In the early 1900s, streetcars boosted development in Tacoma business districts such as Fern Hill, Proctor, Stadium, and “K” Street. These neighborhoods grew up and flourished because of their streetcar lines, bringing in commerce, a larger labor force and new residents. Today, streetcars reinforce the historic character of older neighborhoods and spark growth for new and existing businesses, making new jobs at all levels accessible to a variety of people.

NEED: A streetcar line will provide an important, easy-to-build connection to regional transit systems, allowing the redevelopment of business districts as pedestrian-focused neighborhoods. Moreover, streetcars will reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips throughout the city. Fewer cars mean less pollution.

More Info: Tacoma Streetcar
In the News Tribune: here and here


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Comments:

  1. I’m so for the streetcar but I’m hoping someone is taking the idea of no more overhead wires seriously.

    — KevinFreitas    Jun 5, 07:42 PM    #

  2. I know what we can do… we can try Tesla’s idea of wireless electricity using tesla coils and extremely high voltages on the tops of the buildings along the route.

    ...no I’m not seriuos.

    — Chris Karnes    Jun 6, 11:33 AM    #

  3. Kevin, I believe this may be what you are looking for…

    The “Ground-level power supply” system, which apparently has been implemented in Bordeaux, allows a power supply at ground level w/o the dangers implicit in the old “3rd rail”-style systems. Very cool looking.

    — jamie    Jun 6, 11:53 AM    #

  4. Two rules

    First: NO OVERHEAD WIRES!!!!!!

    Second: I DO NOT want to lose a lane of traffic.

    — steve    Jun 6, 05:52 PM    #

  5. The wires vs. no-wires debate continues over at Kevin’s site.

    I’m not entirely convinced that the possibility of more overhead wires should kill the idea of streetcars. I’m thinking the benefits far outweigh the downsides of a few more relatively unobtrusive wires. I’m thinking any of the available street-level options could raise the cost quite a bit, and that might doom the whole project.

    That said, now’s the time to be investigating the feasability of these other options, so it is definitely open for debate and I’d love to be proven wrong!

    — jamie    Jun 7, 12:00 PM    #