Comments on: Waterfront Streetcar coming back? http://seattletransitblog.com/2007/07/03/waterfront-streetcar-coming-back/ Transit in the Greater Seattle Area Tue, 22 May 2012 00:40:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Anonymous http://seattletransitblog.com/2007/07/03/waterfront-streetcar-coming-back/#comment-407 Anonymous Sat, 07 Jul 2007 00:57:00 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/2007/07/03/waterfront-streetcar-coming-back/#comment-407 By the way, it's not necessarily the case that a streetcar is as slow as buses:<br/><br/>- between multiple, wide doors, low floors and a proof-of-payment system, boarding can be parallelized much better than on buses.<br/><br/>- because the streetcar cannot pull out of traffic, it never needs to pull back into traffic.<br/><br/>- drivers are less familiar with streetcars and may be more inclined to stay away from them.
By the way, it’s not necessarily the case that a streetcar is as slow as buses:

- between multiple, wide doors, low floors and a proof-of-payment system, boarding can be parallelized much better than on buses.

- because the streetcar cannot pull out of traffic, it never needs to pull back into traffic.

- drivers are less familiar with streetcars and may be more inclined to stay away from them.

]]> By: shooter http://seattletransitblog.com/2007/07/03/waterfront-streetcar-coming-back/#comment-395 shooter Wed, 04 Jul 2007 18:19:00 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/2007/07/03/waterfront-streetcar-coming-back/#comment-395 Living in Portland's Pearl District I can tell you that a Streetcar works. Yes, during construction it is tough on businesses because of the disruption. But once in place it adds to the community and brings people in. portland is now planing on extending the streetcar across the Willamette river creating a large loop, including other neighborhoods. Between the Streetcar and the Max light rail system we are continuing to improve our public transit options. And inspite of what many may claim, a ride on the streetcar most days shows that people really do use it.
Living in Portland’s Pearl District I can tell you that a Streetcar works. Yes, during construction it is tough on businesses because of the disruption. But once in place it adds to the community and brings people in. portland is now planing on extending the streetcar across the Willamette river creating a large loop, including other neighborhoods. Between the Streetcar and the Max light rail system we are continuing to improve our public transit options. And inspite of what many may claim, a ride on the streetcar most days shows that people really do use it.

]]> By: Andrew Cencini http://seattletransitblog.com/2007/07/03/waterfront-streetcar-coming-back/#comment-394 Andrew Cencini Wed, 04 Jul 2007 15:51:00 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/2007/07/03/waterfront-streetcar-coming-back/#comment-394 say what you may about the SLU streetcar, it's a step in the right direction for this city. i'm skeptical of the veracity behind the claims that businesses are fleeing SLU because of the streetcar construction (maybe their rents are being raised in anticipation of more foot-traffic?) but in the long run i can see only good things as a result.<br/><br/>the streetcar may have been shoved down everyone's throats, and may be a huge handout to the Wrong People, but it's probably something we'll look back on as an act of political genius - as it will always be seen as the first new rail line to open in seattle in decades (it will beat link light rail), and will be expanded rapidly as ridership and demand exceeds expectations. sure, it's an imperfect and unsatisfying proposition to cozy up to big business, but at the same time, a project like this truly needs the support of big business to prove to some people (typically, the ones who control the purse-strings) that an urban streetcar system can work in seattle.
say what you may about the SLU streetcar, it’s a step in the right direction for this city. i’m skeptical of the veracity behind the claims that businesses are fleeing SLU because of the streetcar construction (maybe their rents are being raised in anticipation of more foot-traffic?) but in the long run i can see only good things as a result.

the streetcar may have been shoved down everyone’s throats, and may be a huge handout to the Wrong People, but it’s probably something we’ll look back on as an act of political genius – as it will always be seen as the first new rail line to open in seattle in decades (it will beat link light rail), and will be expanded rapidly as ridership and demand exceeds expectations. sure, it’s an imperfect and unsatisfying proposition to cozy up to big business, but at the same time, a project like this truly needs the support of big business to prove to some people (typically, the ones who control the purse-strings) that an urban streetcar system can work in seattle.

]]> By: Anonymous http://seattletransitblog.com/2007/07/03/waterfront-streetcar-coming-back/#comment-393 Anonymous Wed, 04 Jul 2007 10:14:00 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/2007/07/03/waterfront-streetcar-coming-back/#comment-393 An interesting dichotomy. As much as I like the idea of streetcars, I can't stand the SLU version -- it's just as slow as the current buses (even in moderate traffic). Essentially, it amounts to a publicly-funded amenity for Paul Allen's developments, yet does nothing to actually alleviate traffic.
An interesting dichotomy. As much as I like the idea of streetcars, I can’t stand the SLU version — it’s just as slow as the current buses (even in moderate traffic). Essentially, it amounts to a publicly-funded amenity for Paul Allen’s developments, yet does nothing to actually alleviate traffic.

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