Thursday, March 19th 2009
The Streetcar Returns
By Kerith
Streetcar ˈstrēt-ˌkär n (1862) : a vehicle on rails used primarily for transporting passengers and typically operating on city streets.
Now that we know what a streetcar is, let’s discuss the history and likely future of the electric streetcar in Milwaukee!
Milwaukee’s first electric streetcar began on April 3, 1890, with a line servicing Wells Street downtown. By 1922, the streetcar had stretched as far west as Watertown, north as Sheboygan, and as far south as Kenosha! Most of the lines were run by single cars, which had just enough room for all passengers.
The streetcar had its ups and downs during the first half of the 20th century. It lost popularity during the Depression when lines were abandoned, sold to private companies or replaced with diesel buses. When gasoline was rationed during World War II, people began riding again, allowing the streetcar to rebuild its operations. But after the war, automobiles and gasoline were easier to obtain, and the streetcar slowly became obsolete. The last remaining line – the original Wells Street line – ran for the last time on March 2, 1958.
Since 2006, the City’s electric streetcar proposal has been picking up speed (tee hee), ultimately receiving federal New Start Funds in 2008. Much like it initially started in 1890, the system will start out small and expand as it gains more ridership. Milwaukee is currently finalizing the route, but it plans to incorporate the existing intermodal station (Amtrak & Greyhound station) as its transit hub.
Why? Aren’t the buses sufficient? Couldn’t we just have more buses?
The City of Milwaukee has some pretty strong arguments why the modern electric streetcar system is better:
GO GREEN! Electric streetcars don’t pollute!
USA! USA! Streetcars use DOMESTIC electricity!
GROWTH! Recent studies show that cities with streetcar routes enable faster and more stable economic development than a comparable auto bus route. Just look at Portland and Charlotte!
VISUALIZE! The tracks allow non-frequent riders the ability to visualize the route, thus making them feel safer riding the streetcar in the centre-ville.
So what do you think? Would you ride the streetcar instead of driving or taking the bus? Give us your 2 cents! We want to hear it!
