The District Department of Transportation recently released detailed plans for the new system, which has been in the making for more than 14 years.
Initial plans call for construction of two lines: a 2-mile track connecting Union Station and the H Street Corridor and a 1-mile segment between the Navy Annex and the Anacostia Metrorail station. The project, which District hopes will expand options for crosstown commuters and spur growth in underdeveloped areas, is expected to cost $194 million, with operation beginning in 2012. Eventually, the streetcar network will extend 37 miles citywide.
Finding adequate funding is the major challenge to kicking off the first phase, writes Derek Kravitz:
"The District government has applied for more than $110 million in federal funding, but last week it lost out on $18 million worth of U.S. Transportation Department infrastructure grants. Transportation officials have proposed tapping $180 million of debt service provided for the Metrorail system; private landowners have been lobbied to consider a special tax district or additional fees for zoning or density allowances; and public-private partnerships are being looked at."
FULL STORY: Details emerge for D.C. streetcars, set to begin in 2012
The Details of Sacramento's Proposed Downtown Streetcar Line
The cities of West Sacramento and Sacramento have high hopes for a streetcar line planned for some of the most beautiful and urban neighborhoods in the region. The Trump Administration could still change the course of the project, however.
Cities Try New Approaches to Fund Streetcars
As federal transportation funding grows increasingly uncertain, cities across the country are trying new approaches to generate funds for their planned streetcar projects.
Dallas Streetcar is 1 of 51 Projects to Receive Federal Funding
DOT Secretary Ray LaHood announced $1.5 billion in transportation grants this morning, including $23 million towards a streetcar project in Dallas.
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
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HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
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