LAist: A Streetcar Named Los Angeles

Alan Fishel

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:44:43 -0800

Interesting that the selected date is May 22nd which is the date in 1955 that the abandonment of the 5,7,8,9, F and part of the W lines in Los Angeles with over 100 miles of track and the scrapping of over 200 streetcars took place. A streetcar circulator in NoHo as well as in Downtown along Broadway will bring back a lot in the way of business and make the movement of living in the center city much more workable. The Portland Streetcar as with the F Line in San Francisco and others has really helped the areas along their route. This is a big Win-Win for all concerned. Building the Streetcar is faster and less expensive than a LRT line and with its visible presence makes it very useful. Parking is much easer when you can park out of the denser center city or take a Metro or MetroLink Line and take the streetcar to your center city destinations. This could include shopping, visiting friends living downtown or NoHo, dining followed by an entertainment venue all with out having to move the car or having to look for a place to park. If you don’t believe me visit Portland or even the new streetcar in Seattle. P.S. I enjoy visiting Powell's Books when I visit Portland Via the Portland Streetcar.

jbj

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 10:56:41 -0800

The easiest thing to do to get light rail thru neighborhoods that resist it due to "safety concerns", is to put the train below grade in a trench. That's how St. Louis runs their rail thru town. A hell of a lot cheaper than tunnels, and just a bit more than what we are doing now.

JawaXC

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 13:48:18 -0800

There will be a streetcar workshop on May 22nd in Los Angeles where Michael Powell I believe will be a speaker. http://www.reconnectingamerica.org/public/headline/249

echoboom

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 12:39:07 -0800

i believe that the same happened in houston when they installed their railine. but i heard it took them a lot longer to construct.