Meet the New Face of LA Streetcar, Inc

The streetcar is a fantastic idea. However, I don't support the idea on its merits alone. There needs to be a neighborhood council that requires strict enforcement of codes for storefronts, structures, windows, vendors and curb-view on Broadway. Aside from the 2nd floor up of the current buildings the area is a commercial disaster. Look no further than Washington Blvd to see that without strict neighborhood Smart Code and standards an area can fail even with amazing public transportation running through its heart.

Dan, You are SO RIGHT. The Broadway Initiative needs to take a strong stand about applying a strict code of aesthetics to Broadway businesses to avoid continuing the flea market scene that currently exists. I hope the committee is listening to you and me. Otherwise, you won't see hopping off the streetcar to buy cheap electronics and knock-off tennis shoes.

If there is a desire to study a streetcar, then, by all means do so -- but, let's start by asking what exactly it is that the streetcar is supposes to be doing that isn't going on now, and what are the other alternatives to doing what it is that someone wants to get done -- and if it is worth doing?

If the purpose is transportation, then I suggest that other transportation alternatives be studied -- perhaps including "replica streetcars," buses that are designed to look like streetcars, but which are far less expensive to acquire and operate, take less time to get going, and provide the ability to make changes to routes as needed. From my prior experience in such matters, for the cost a streetcar system, a good short-trip-length bus system could provide far, FAR more actual transportation trips and benefits.

In fact, it might be a real good idea to operate the service that is proposed for steel-wheel-on-steel-track streetcars with such replica's on the same route as a test of concept. Among the outcomes are these three possibilities: a. There wasn't much ridership on the replica streetcars -- and is there a reason to believe that ridership would really be much higher for the $100 million version. b. Hey, we got a whole bunch of ridership -- if we can do this good without spending the $100 million, do we really need to spend $100 million. c. You know, it was a good thing we did this, because moving the route over a block from our original concept turns out to be much better -- good thing we found that out before we laid down the tracks.

Oh, wait, don't we already have such a system (except for the fancy vehicles) -- DASH?

So, what would the streetcar do that DASH isn't or couldn't?

Perhaps the answer is that the streetcar is not really a transportation system, it is more of a tourist attraction or, somehow, someone believes that putting in a streetcar will somehow magically make real estate values increase? Or that the area needs a $100 million dollar identity that only a streetcar could provide?

Before accepting any of these justifications, I would suggest taking a good, hard look at what streetcars have done in other places, and I do NOT mean taking "chamber of commerce" tours from streetcar promoters. Some of the benefits attributed to streetcars from such promoters verge on the hilarious -- for example, among the real estate projects attributed to the Portland streetcar was a $10 million underground parking garage project at a church.

By the way, don't forget to consider that putting streetcars on tracks on city streets does tend to interfer with auto, truck, and bus traffic.

Also, streetcars make DASH look fast -- many do not average five mph -- how long would that trip from Civic Center to LA Live take, again?

Make sure the fire department is involved in the planning -- running 750v through bare electric wires over downtown streets where there are a lot of high-rise structures is something I believe that they will be most interested in being part of the planning for at a very early stage.

One comment in the story I find quite puzzling concerns the "connecting Bunker Hill" point. Now, Bunker Hill may mean different things to different people, as at least some definitions include major portions of the downtown, but, for most people, the "Hill" in Bunker Hill means the top of the hill, specifically South Grand Avenue between approximately West Third and West Fourth -- which is the center one of the densest areas of downtown in terms of high-rise commercial, high-rise residential, and several very significant nearby cultural attractions. I can certainly see why Grand Avenue South of the Civic Center would be a very attractive route for a streetcar line.

The problem, however, is that, if we are talking about the actual "hill" in Bunker Hill, it is, well, A HILL -- and there are limits to what you can do with running trains up and down hills with steel-wheels-on-steel-rail. After all, this hilltop -- with an over 30% grade -- was the reason for the once (and I hope future) Angel's Flight.

So, if there is an intention to actually including this portion of South Grand on the streetcar route, I would be most interested in seeing the actual route alignment and the grades, particularly considering the most interesting and complex mixture of steep grades (particuarly Grand South of 4th Street and 4th Street East of Grand), a one-way extended high-speed freeway off-ramp (4th Street), tunnels (2nd and 3rd Streets), short and indirect street access (such as Gen. Kusciuzcko Way), and the Terminator I memorial lower Grand Street.

Of course, if Bunker Hill does not mean the actual hill at the top of Bunker Hill will be served by the streetcar, fine -- just as long as everyone knows that on the way in.

I disagree with Tom Rubin. Tom, streetcars have proven to be MUCH more effective than DASH buses...
Streetcars are not merely a tourist attraction, but a city necessity for transporting commuters. I am originally from Moscow, where streetcars were used vastly by commuters, to get to/from work, school, etc. (yes, tourists do use it occasionally, but streetcars are for everybody , not just tourists.
Also, after visiting other cities (and other countries, for that matter) it is clear how streetcars create a vibrant way of life in a city. Streetcars beatify our streets significantly, as well as improve the landscaping, while providing efficient mobility options for commuters. Buses have proven to be inefficient, unattractive, and will never ever be a substitute for a train or streetcar!
Way to go, Dennis Allen!
Way to go, LA Streetcar!!
I can't wait to ride the streetcar in Los Angeles!