A Desire Named StreetcarA Desire Named Streetcar

Minneapolis’ New Streetcar Ambitions

Minneapolis’ New Streetcar Ambitions

Ginger MurphyRyan Gaug

Heng HuW. Kyle Chester

Ryan Loos

Oct 10th, 2007

OutlinesOutlinesDefinition

History

National Policy

Case Study: Portland & Toronto

Minneapolis

Minneapolis Policy

Definition of Streetcar:Definition of Streetcar:on-street vs. separate right of wayfrequency of stopslength of route

-By Scott Murphy, funded by Forecast Public Art-At the intersection of University Avenue and Fairview Avenue in St.Paul-Created 2007

General History:General History:

speculative, competitive - redundant lines, bad connections

maturity - consolidated and rationalized

decline - rise of the automobile

Twin City History:Twin City History:Twin Cities Rapid Transit Company (TCRT) formed in 1890Peak ridership in 1922Brief rebound during the war, then continued decline

-Drawn and exhibited by the Twin City Rapid Transit Company -It is currently located in the Minneapolis Central Library, 4th floor -Created 1904, revised 1916 -Author: John Jager (1871-1959)

Twin Cities History, cont.Twin Cities History, cont.1930s: TCRT begins introducing busesPresident's Modern Conference Cars (PCCs) introduced after the war1952-1954: entire fleet converted to buses

-Picture found here: http://www.mpls.lib.mn.us/history/tr3.asp (Minneapolis Public Library)-June 19,1954-Taken at Hennepin Avenue near 6th Street

Conspiracy ConspiracyGM, Firestone, Standard OilFred Ossannasped up, but did not cause death of streetcars

-Picture found here: http://www.mpls.lib.mn.us/history/tr3.asp (Minneapolis Public Library)-1954-James Towley (left) and Fred Ossanna (right)

National Streetcar PolicyNational Streetcar Policy

National policy during the decline of streetcar National policy in the renaissance phase

National policy during the decline of streetcar National policy during the decline of streetcar

Advancement of automotive technology

Gasoline taxes and other fees

In 1955, Congress ordered the company in Washington, D.C. to convert to buses within eight years

Policy in the Renaissance phasePolicy in the Renaissance phase

1962 Kennedy administration ,mass transit1964 Urban Mass Transportation Act - Urban Mass Transit Administration (UMTA).

1973, Congress allowed cities to cancel interstate highway projects and use the funds for mass transit In 1982 Congress increased gasoline taxes by 5 cents a gallon and dedicated one of those cents to transit funding.

Case Study: PortlandCase Study: Portland

Portland’s StreetcarSystem

Portland’s StreetcarSystem

• Connect Vacant Parcels• Increase Housing Stock• Increase Density • Unique Development Agreements• $1.5 Billion in New Development

Case Study: Toronto Case Study: Toronto

•Largest Streetcar system in North America•Operated since 1861•Continuing strength of downtown as a regional employment, retail, and cultural center as well as the increasing role for a residential center.•Supported the transition of industrial areas along the lakeshore to redevelop with residential, recreational and cultural uses.•Ontario has also passed the Move Ontario 2020 Plan

Primary TransitNetwork (PTN)Primary TransitNetwork (PTN)

Mode Neutral Frequency Standard Speed Standard 14 PTNs studied

Candidate StreetcarCorridors

Candidate StreetcarCorridors

• Two Phases of Corridor Evaluation• Phase I

•Physical Constraints•Geometric Constraints

• Phase II•Land Use•Economic Development Potential•Demand

Candidate Streetcar Corridors - DowntownCandidate Streetcar Corridors - Downtown

Long-Term Streetcar Network

•West Broadway Avenue•Hennepin Ave South•Nicollet Ave South•University Ave SE/4th Street SE•Chicago Ave South•Central Ave NE•Midtown Corridor

Long-Term Streetcar Network in DowntownLong-Term Streetcar Network in Downtown

Midtown Corridor Streetcar AlignmentMidtown Corridor Streetcar Alignment

Initial and Minimum Operable SegmentsInitial and Minimum Operable Segments

• Short Construction Time-Frame• Shorter in Length• Minimum Segments

What Happens Next ?What Happens Next ?

• Develop design guidelines for streetcar corridors• Establish a funding plan• Identify site(s) for maintenance and storage facility• Gauge developer support• Gauge economic development potential• Decide which agency will operate the system• Gauge political support• Preliminary engineering• Environmental assessment requirements

Minneapolis Streetcar PolicyMinneapolis Streetcar Policy

Metropolitan Council – Formed in 1967 by the Minnesota State LegislatureMetropolitan Council – Formed in 1967 by the Minnesota State Legislature

Seven County Metropolitan Area Includes: Hennepin, Ramsey, Anoka, Dakota, Carver, Scott, and Washington

Responsible for economic development and transportation management.

Audit transportation system every four years

2030 Transportation Policy and Plan2030 Transportation Policy and Plan

Outlines goalsEliminating growth of congestionImproving mobility

Future plans include 4 million additional daily tripsContains 18 policies

FundingInvestment in TechnologyPromoting Ridership Through Incentives

DiscussionDiscussionAre street cars a good option for Minneapolis?

Is it justifiable to spend millions of dollars on a new mass transit system with the current condition of the Minneapolis infrastructure?

What would be the ideal way to build a new transit system?

Will it be easier or more difficult to build a streetcar system now compared to the first time it was built?

Are streetcars compatible with current land use patterns?

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