The goal of any city project should be to inspire and unite – it should represent the people that it serves. The goal of Tacoma Streetcar is to do this while connecting Tacoma’s communities. There is currently a disconnect between the dozen or so business districts – a unified streetcar system will help inspire residents to explore their city and discover new neighborhoods.
Within the next few decades, it is expected that several thousand new residents will make Tacoma their home. This and the emphasis to attract outside tourists creates a very real need to create a transportation that will appeal to those that prefer not to ride the bus. With renewed investment occurring in Tacoma’s neighborhoods, including downtown, it makes sense to create a transportation for sustainable growth.
Many urban planners recognize that the future of a metropolis depends on the vitality of its downtown core and inner city neighborhoods. Let this core – the heart and soul of the entire region – deteriorate, and the metropolitan area is sapped of strength and vigor. This realization has resulted in the “smart growth” concept, which seeks to limit urban sprawl, reduce traffic bottlenecks, and increase mobility in our growing cities. All across North America, historic streetcars are being reintroduced to city streets, offering residents and visitors an additional transportation choice while simultaneously revitalizing communities.
Cities with historic streetcars in operation are Tucson, AZ; San Jose, San Francisco, and San Pedro, CA; Denver, and Fort Collins, CO; Tampa, FL; New Orleans, LA; Lowell, MA; Charlotte, NC; El Reno, OK; Astoria, Lake Oswego, and Portland, OR; Memphis, TN; Dallas and Galveston, TX; Issaquah, Seattle, and Yakima, WA; and Kenosha, WI. In Canada, historic streetcars are found in Kenosha, Vancouver, Edmonton, Nelson, and Whitehorse. Cities with streetcar lines under construction are Little Rock, AR, and Philadelphia, PA. Cities actively planning proposed streetcar systems include San Diego and Sacramento, CA; Colorado Springs, CO; Savannah, GA; Sioux City, IA; Philadelphia, PA; and Fort Worth, TX.
