Streetcars Defy Economic Gravity

[Ocklawaha]

Mass Transit Ridership, like everything else in our country is down... Down 3.8% - 4+% nationally, and down over 50% locally, if one set of numbers turns out to be correct.

Is this even possible? Which begs the question, is this Jacksonville? The likelihood is apparent.

Most all of these systems nationally are bus operations, but a funny thing happened on the way to more Bus Rapid Transit.  Streetcars in new systems in at least 7 cities have blown away the negative Nelly's. So while Jacksonville was driving backwards, and neighboring systems had flat lined a citizens acceptance revival has swept the country.

Philadelphia, PA, with an "ancient" streetcar system, and one out of every three buildings within the urbanized area vacant, posted a whopping 17.5% RIDERSHIP GAIN in the Light Rail Category.

Oceanside, CA, with a shinny new Light Rail System is likewise basking in the Southern California sun, posting a 11.6% INCREASE in RIDERSHIP.

Tampa, FL, The City where BRT and bus industry "experts" have circled the wagons (around CUTR) and loudly proclaimed over a BILLION DOLLARS in new economic development adjacent to the streetcar track had nothing to do with streetcars. And it gets better for Tampa, those same "experts" claim nobody rides the streetcars in Tampa, which by the way suffer from the same lack of destination that our own Skyway does. Yet last year, the TECO Streetcar line, aleady years ahead of modest ridership projections suddenly posted a 7.0% gain in ridership.

Baltimore, MD, is a sleeping giant as a transportation savvy city, sporting Elevated Heavy Rail, Light Rail, Streetcars, Water Taxi's, Bus, Commuter Rail, Regional Rail and AMTRAK, as well as one of the worlds few Intermodal AIR-BUS-RAIL terminals. Baltimore with more streetcars on the drawing board posted a 13.9% Gain in
ridership on it's Light Rail Systems.

Memphis, TN, Has a novel idea... (puts tongue inside of cheek) they collected a dozen or so antique streetcars from around the world and put them to work as Transportation + Museum + Tourist Attraction. Gee wonder how THAT would work? How about 11.6% annual gain in ridership for "WORKS!"

San Francisco, CA, Just when everyone thought there is NOTHING that could be improved upon in The City By The Bay's Transit, the MUNI Light Rail division, using streetcars up to 100 years old, posted a 1.1% gain.

Seattle, WA, But of course the city that is home to those nasty Sea Hawks finished a brand new streetcar, and brand new Light Rail Line, so they posted a 100% growth in rail last year! Lest you think this town prostituted itself on the alter for a SLUT, that mischievous gal has broken all projections as to her behavior.

Jacksonville, FL, ...---...---...---...---...---...---...---...




OCKLAWAHA

[JeffreyS]

Streetcar now.

[tufsu1]

Ock...to be fair, our numbers here are down .05%...

as for the Tampa line...it has not really increased ridership much....mainly due to a drop in tourism/convention business....and the $2.50 one-way fare!

FY 2002 - 420,000
FY 2005 - 434,000
FY 2006 - 390,000
FY 2009 - 463,000