Transit Performance of Modern-Era Streetcars: Consideration of Five U.S. Cities

This study examined the transit performance of streetcars in five U.S. cities: Little Rock, Arkansas; Memphis, Tennessee; Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Washington; and Tampa, Florida. The study documented strong and weak performing streetcars and identified the factors that might explain variation in streetcar performance. Portland emerged with the highest ridership and was the most productive and second-most cost-effective streetcar city. Portland’s stronger transit performance was attributed to its local setting and to its planning and operating decisions, which emphasized the streetcar’s role as a transportation investment and development tool. This approach contrasted with the other cities, where development and tourism objectives were the dominant factors in streetcar decision making.

Record URL:
Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/173741.aspx
Authors:
- Ramos-Santiago, Luis Enrique
- Brown, Jeffrey R
- Nixon, Hilary
Publication Date: 2015

Language

English

Media Info

Media Type: Print
Features: Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
Pagination: pp 57–67
Monograph Title: Public Transportation: Passenger Rail and Terminals, Volume 2
Serial:
- Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
- Issue Number: 2534
- Publisher: Transportation Research Board
- ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

TRT Terms: Light rail transit; Performance measurement; Ridership; Streetcars; Urban transit
Geographic Terms: Little Rock (Arkansas); Memphis (Tennessee); Portland (Oregon); Seattle (Washington); Tampa (Florida)
Subject Areas: Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

Accession Number: 01551026
Record Type: Publication
ISBN: 9780309369398
Report/Paper Numbers: 15-1277
Files: PRP, TRIS, TRB, ATRI
Created Date: Jan 27 2015 11:21AM