Yonah Freemark reports that New York should be careful not to fall into the same trap as cities such as Little Rock and Memphis, where the reintroduction of streetcars is "more about tourism than meeting the typical commuting needs."
The streetcars are not handicap accessible or air conditioned and carry fewer passengers than the B61 bus they are intended to replace. Yet Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez from New York City, has funded a study on reinserting them into the urban space. Ms. Velazquez wants a further $10 million earmark to put them into operation.