The South Rises Again: This Time For Electric Traction
By Paul M. Weyrich
February 11, 2008

It is true that light rail and streetcars in the Far West have exceeded those in other parts of the nation. Yet what is happening in the Old South and Border states is quite remarkable. The streetcars in New Orleans have kept operating when there were no other non PCC systems in the country. In 1988 the Riverfront car line was added to the system and then just a few years ago streetcars were restored on Canal Street, after having been abandoned in 1964. Moreover, the Canal operation even includes a branch to City Park.

Dallas features a first rate light rail system (DART) which is in the process of doubling the current mileage so when all is aid and done the light rail system will end up with at least 90 route miles, and the system could go all the way to 100 route miles if pressure continues to build for more lines. In addition, the McKinney Avenue Transit Authority operates six different types of streetcars on a 3.5 mile line. One end of the line directly connects with DART and there are plans for the other end to connect with a different DART station as well. Another part of Dallas is seriously looking at a different streetcar line. Maryland is usually not thought of as the Old South, yet it surely was. Thus the Baltimore light rail system, some 30 miles long with two lines, has been operating for about a decade and a half now. It serves Camden Yards which means that on baseball and football home games over a third of the beautiful stadium are populated by passengers who take light rail to get there. The light rail system also connects with both the Penn line and Camden line Commuter rail operations, which is quite convenient for some passengers.

Tampa Florida has a 3.5 mile Heritage streetcar line. Plans are underway to extend it for an additional half mile into Downtown. The system features eight double truck Birney cars, plus an original Tampa streetcar and now an open car Replica. It is perhaps one of the best designed carlines in the country.

Now Charlotte, N.C. has a brand new light rail line with plans afoot for several additional lines. And soon a two mile streetcar line will duplicate the light rail track. The system features three double truck Birneys, an original Charlotte streetcar and a Replica open car. In addition, several other cars are being rehabilitated.

Among the Border States, Memphis features a three line Heritage streetcar system. One of the streetcar lines may be extended to the Memphis Airport, with modern equipment substituting for the Heritage cars. The downtown line features a number of single truck streetcars from Oporto. The Riverfront line is a strictly tourist operation. The Madison Ave. line runs to a major medical center. It is the line which could be extended.

Another Border state is Missouri. It features a well run two line light rail system which runs from the St. Louis International Airport in Missouri through downtown St. Louis and the Amtrak station to the Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. It is one of the few Interstate light rail operations in the United States

Now looking at what is likely to be built in the Old South and the Border States, we find a downtown streetcar line in Birmingham, Alabama. The circulator streetcar is part of a major upgrade of the city’s bus system. Although funding has yet to be secured, the streetcar line is a virtual certainty.

Money has already been allocated to build a four mile streetcar up Columbia Pike from Arlington, Virginia to Fairfax, Virginia. Unless something drastic occurs to reverse the situation, this line is on its way to being built. Likewise the starter line in Norfolk, Virginia has been funded with state and federal funds. It was stop and start for this seven and a half mile line but now it is surely on its way toward construction. Moreover, Virginia Beach, which had turned down being part of a light rail network, is all of a sudden taking a second look at the situation. The line currently is scheduled to stop at the Border of Norfolk and Virginia Beach. In fact other communities in the Metro area which had likewise rejected light rail are also looking at possibly joining the system once more. Roanoke, Virginia, on the other side of the state is also looking at running a downtown Heritage streetcar line. It would be funded entirely with local funds.

In Atlanta, Georgia the plans for a ten mile long Peachtree streetcar line are alive if not well. There clearly is the desire to build a modern car line, ala Portland, Oregon. The question is how to fund it. Currently being discussed are taxing districts with-in two blocks of either side of the catchments area. This line has been kicking around for sometime now, but right now the issue appears to be hot. It appears that this like has a 50- 50 chance to be built.

Among the Border states Louisville, Kentucky has a well thought out light rail line which serves all of the places folks want to go in that city. For a time, transit officials mothballed the project the project due to the Bush Administration’s hostility toward rail. But of late the project has been resurrected again because it appears that light rail projects are getting funded. It is streetcars which are not. We shall see what becomes of the excellent light rail project for Louisville.

One final project for the border states is Kansas City, MO. A referendum calling for a long streetcar line fed by electric trolley buses unexpectedly passed. Transit and city officials were immediately hostile to the project and have been trying to undo it ever since. The fellow who got the project on the ballot is busy fighting officials in the courts, claiming that they do not have the authority to overturn the will of the people. But apparently they do have that authority but we shall see what the court does. In any case, it appears unlikely that this line will ever be built.

There you have it. A great deal of activity in the Old Confederate States and much activity in the Border States as well. When all is said and done, a decade from now, it will be interesting to see just what is operating and what is not.

Copyright Free Congress Foundation
2007