DC Surface Transit Announces Streetcar Technology Seminar May 6

Streetcar From Monorail
Originally uploaded by MSPdude

Inekon/Skoda streetcar in Seattle Flickr image by MSPdude. Note the overhead wire infrastructure is not too noticeable.

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From email:

DC Surface Transit (DCST) is conducting a seminar on streetcar propulsion technology on Thursday, May 6, 2010, 5-7PM, at the Renaissance Hotel, 999 9th Street, NW, in Downtown DC. The seminar is free and open to the public.

Rich Bradley, President of DCST and Executive Director of the Downtown Business Improvement District, will moderate a panel of transit and urban design experts. A question and answer period will follow the panel presentations.

"Streetcar lines are an important investment in the District’s future, a durable commitment by the city to improving neighborhoods and fostering economic development, " explained Mr. Bradley. He noted that this seminar was in keeping with DCST's mission to promote convenient and affordable surface transit in the District of Columbia. DCST organized a public seminar on DC's Transit Future in 2008.

The seminar will address the current legal and environmental framework for modern streetcar systems. Martin Schroeder, Chief Engineer for the American Public Transit Association, will review existing and developing streetcar technologies. Greg Baldwin, a Principal with Zimmer Gunsel Frasca, will present strategies for integrating streetcar infrastructure into urban streetscapes.

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Today the Washington Post editorialized that streetcar activists and proponents espousing design and viewshed reasons for opposing streetcars ought to come to a meeting of the minds. See "D.C. and streetcar foes need to get on the same track."

From the article:

Wire opponents are pushing technology that wouldn't require overhead lines, but city officials say it's costly and unreliable. No one wants to see the city's glorious views marred in any way, but city officials make a good case that aesthetics must be weighed against the advantages of better mass transit. D.C. Council member Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6) is right to argue that the degradation to the environment is worse from cars on the road than from some unobtrusive overhead wires.

The city has only itself to blame for not initiating a better discussion and planning process earlier. Still, it is right to have a sense of urgency in providing transportation alternatives as congestion grows. The two sides need to come to an understanding. A good place to start is with the reasonable suggestion by Gabe Klein, the city's transportation chief, to use a hybrid system that allows overhead wires in some areas but still respects the city's capital views.