D.C. Streetcar Expansion May Be Further Trimmed

New Washington, D.C. Mayor Bowser may deviate from the prior administration by not supporting the expansion of the streetcar line. This is a double-blow to streetcar advocates, as Mayor Gray had already pared down the new streetcar's expansion plans.

1 minute read

March 7, 2015, 5:00 AM PST

By Irvin Dawid


"In a significant departure from the previous administration, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is not committed to extending the District’s first streetcar line since 1962 beyond the opening 2.2-miles along H Street and Benning Road Northeast, jeopardizing plans her predecessor viewed as the lynchpin for the city’s future economic development and multi-modal transportation," writes WAMU transportation reporter, Martin Di Caro.

What is left of former Mayor Vincent Gray’s vision of a priority streetcar system — pared down from 22 to 8 miles by D.C. Council funding cuts last year — is the subject of an internal review.

Lines to Georgetown and Anacostia would potentially be eliminated. "The administration’s focus right now is getting the H Street line up and running as soon as it is safe to do so," writes Di Caro. "Long-term plans for Streetcar will be made following that,” said Bowser spokesman Michael Czin.

Di Caro writes that cutting limiting the streetcar line to "the borders of a single neighborhood is deflating for transit advocates who were once excited by the prospect of nearly two dozen miles of streetcar tracks crisscrossing Washington. Some are now questioning whether a 2.2-mile line would have any value, especially considering it has cost more than $160 million to build."

Wednesday, March 4, 2015 in WAMU

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight