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Some Information About the Proposed Peachtree Streetcars

What Streetcars Are

There are many types of rail systems, the most common being heavy rail, light rail, and streetcars. Heavy rail systems such as MARTA carry the greatest number of people at the fastest speeds, but are also the most expensive to build. Since the costs of tunneling and/or obtaining rights-of-way for heavy rail can be prohibitive, many cities turn to light rail instead; it's usually less expensive per mile to build than heavy rail, but has less capacity and is somewhat slower. Light rail has an advantage over heavy rail in that it can run either at a separate grade from roadways or on streets in mixed traffic.

Streetcars are a type of light rail that are normally powered by overhead wires on ordinary streets fitted with rails. Slightly smaller and slower than conventional light rail, streetcars typically serve as internal circulators in a city rather than as means for commuters to get to and from the suburbs. Streetcar stops are usually closer together than heavy rail stations, but farther apart than regular bus stops, and can have a range of passenger shelter types. The streetcars' top speed is about 30 mph. With stops and traffic flow factored in, the vehicles in the Peachtree Street Proposal are expected to move at about 10 mph.

Different From Light Rail

Light rail is a regional transit system, with relatively fast-moving, large cars designed to transport high numbers of people rapidly between suburban and urban areas. Streetcars are intended to go shorter distances, in highly populated city neighborhoods. Streetcars are not intended to carry the same high volume of rush hour passengers as inter-urban commuter trains, and therefore the cars are smaller. They can operate in mixed traffic, preserving the traffic patterns of neighborhood streets. They can stop more frequently and offer a more flexible service appropriate for a high density neighborhood. Streetcar systems can be built more rapidly and with less disruption from construction than light rail lines.

The Proposal

The city is currently considering development of a streetcar line that would originate at Fort McPherson, make a 2.5 mile loop through downtown Atlanta, then head north up Peachtree Street to the Fulton/Dekalb line, around Club Drive. Total length would be 14 miles. Similar systems have been installed in Portland, Oregon, and Washington, D.C. As I understand it, the streetcars would likely be bought from Skoda-Inekon in the Czech Republic, a world leader in streetcar producution and design. (Click the image to the left for a larger drawing of the Skoda-Inekon model used in D.C.) It is being presented as part of Mayor Franklin's "Peachtree Project" to make Peachtree St/Peachtree Rd into an urban boulevard with wider sidewalks and a more open feel, such as cafes open to the street. (I'm betting Her Honor has been to Paris.)

Of course, people are divided over the issue. The most controversial section is the Buckhead corridor, running roughly from the south side of Buckhead to the north edge of Phipps Plaza. This is one of the busiest bits of road in the United States, carrying 40,000 cars per day. For better or worse, Atlanta is designed for the car culture, and streetcars are going to be a difficult fit. Everyone apparently agrees that if the streetcars get bogged down in heavy traffic, they will not attract enough riders to make them worth the estimated $500 million price tag (before overruns). My bet is that, if it is built, we will see right lane restrictions at least during rush hours (i.e. the right lane reserved for streetcars and vehicles turning right).

My personal feeling is that it wouldn't be a bad idea to keep some cars off Peachtree; it would certainly help the noise and air pollution levels. But clearly it will slow commute times, particularly in the afternoon, for people like my wife, whose office is on East Shadowlawn. The problem I have is the "half-in half-out" nature of public transportation. I'd be happy to take the streetcar to, say, the Kroger near Brookwood Station, but how am I supposed to get from Peachtree to my house? Even empty-handed and even with the recent sidewalk/crosswalk improvements, it's not a fun walk, especially up the Collier Road obstacle course.