The debate about the effectiveness of streetcars as an alternative form of transportation (rather than just a driver of property values) isn't going anywhere. The latest test case for the ongoing experiment: Atlanta.
Rebecca Burns asks one of urbanism's burning questions: "Is the streetcar a practical option for people who live and work within walking distance of its 12 stops?" The streetcar in question is Atlanta's—opened earlier this year to much fanfare and debate regarding the merits of streetcars as a transit system.
Burns begins by acknowledging the benefits of the system to out-of-town tourists and "local tourists" alike, before embarking on a daily journal of a commute between home and office in the early days of the streetcar's operation. For the record, Burns says the commute can be done at a brisk walk in 35 minutes or anywhere from 15 minutes to 45 minutes in a car.
The diary recounts such vital statistics as how many other commuters are on the streetcar, how many tweets she posted while onboard, and how many minutes the trip took. The diary totals a week of trips, a number of frustrating episodes as well as some pleasant moments, and an ambivalent conclusion about the possibility that the streetcar is a suitable alternative for commuters.
FULL STORY: The Atlanta Streetcar is good for tourists. What about regular commuters?
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.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
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.
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.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
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