Editorial: Streetcar Funding Better Spent Elsewhere

The Economist introduces the concept of the streetcar in America—its history and its recent revival—before laying the arguments in support of, and against, the role of streetcars in urban revival.

1 minute read

August 16, 2014, 9:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Buffalo Light Rail

Jenn Durfey / Flickr

After a fairly balanced introduction, citing the arguments of streetcar supporters and examples, like Portland, where Streetcars have been credited with urban revival, the editorial makes its argument: "America’s streetcar revival is gobbling up funds that might otherwise go towards cheaper, nimbler forms of public transport, such as buses. This is not only wasteful, but tends to favour better-off riders, such as tourists and shoppers." 

Saturday, August 9, 2014 in The Economist

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