historic street car lines

[Jim Holland]

Greetings!

	Thanks for this perspective and detail.  One paragraph really stands
out:

> Joe Greta, a Pittsburgh Post Gazette staff writer reporting
> on the PCC extension to Fisherman's Wharf in his March
> 19 column "Getting Around" suggested a line in Pittsburgh
> between downtown, the Convention Center and the Strip
> as a tourist line and a practical transit service. Such a service
> would probably be under the control of the Port Authority.
> Outside of Alleghency County it would be under PUC
> control.

	This speaks of the balance I have mentioned before - it needs to have
local support not only through outside groups but also in ridership on
the commute and shopping level.

	I think that a line like this will only augment existing operations;
the inclines will be direct beneficiaries and Museum involvement in the
project will allow for good references to their facilities.  After all,
with all the historic movement here in SF, I haven't heard that Rio
Vista is hurting!

Harold Geissenheimer wrote:
> 
> Greetings
> 
> Over the last two weeks I have followed My EMail about building
> a historic streetcar line in Pittsburgh.  There are many good
> suggestions and it should be noted thats how a community moves
> forward.  There are lots of questions about funding and operation
> which must be answered realistically.
> 
> First, what is a historic streetcar line?  Many of the suggestions
> seemed to be based on a rigid line between transit and historic.
> As John Swindler has pointed out, the Feds dont make that
> distinction.  Such a project must be funded within the community's
> capital program and will require local share as well.  It will be
> in competition with other projects not only in Pittsburgh but
> also in the entire nation.
> 
> Lets look at some of the socalled historic or tourist lines.  I have
> visited most of them and thay are quite diverse.  Here goes:
> - Seattle: The waterfront trolley  is a regular transit line which
>    serves tourists while using ex-Melbourne cars.Operated by Metro.
> - San Francisco: Ditto the F Line including the Fisherman's
>    Wharf extension except that PP cars and historic cars are used.
> - New Orleans: The Riverside Line serves the Convention
>   Center and the French Quarter with new replica cars.
>   Operated by RTA. The entire St Charles line is historic.
> - Tampa: The new line from the Convention Center to Ybor
>   City will use replica light weight cars. Operated by HART.
> - Memphis: The loop and the Riverline used by historic cars
>   (ex Melbourne and Porto) will be the base of future light
>   rail lines starting with the Hospital line.  Operated by MATA.
> - Dallas: The McKinney Ave line is operated by a separate
>   authority with volunnter labor,
> - Portland, San Jose, and soon, Sacramento, operate historic
>   cars on midday loops over LRT tracks.
> - Detroit had a city owned downtown historic line.  I dont
>   know if is operating at present.
> - Vancouver: a museum line using two restored interurban
>   cars near downtown.
> - Nelson, BC: a city owned line in a park with one car.
> - Calgary: A city owned line in their historic park.
> - Minneapolis: a museum line in a park.
> - Portland: a volunteer tourist line on an old rr line using
>   two cars with diesel generators.
> - Denver: a volunteer tourist line with diesel generators.
> - Tuscon: a volunteer tourist line downtown with
>   city support,
> - Scranton: a volunteer historic restoration at Steamtown.
> - Philadelphia: SEPTA has operated historic PCC's downtown
>   and in Germantown on occasion.  The Buckingham Valley
>   Group had operated historic cars at the riverfront.  These
>   are now in Scranton.
> - Galveston: Diesel powered new historic cars made in New
>   Castle, Pa. between downtown, the beach and the
>   Convention Center.  Can be converted to full electric.
>   A city project with federal funding.
> - San Diego: Has two old cars from Austria for possible
>   historic line over LRT.
> 
> In short, there are many different examples. Most have transit
> system or government participation,  Others are smaller and
> use volunteer staff with extensive corporate sponsorship.
> 
> In Pittsburgh, the Arden Trolley Museum and the Duquesne
> Heights Incline have progressed making good use of volunteer
> help, corporate sponsors and limited government assistance.
> These are labor of love.
> 
> IT IS IMPORTANT NOT TO STRIP EITHER TO SUPPORT
> A COMPETING PROJECT.  IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT
> THAT A HISTORIC LINE FIT INTO THE OVERALL
> TRANSPORTATION PLAN OF THE COMMUNITY.
> THE FEDERAL MONEY IS LIMITED AS IS THE
> LOCAL SHARE.
> 
> Joe Greta, a Pittsburgh Post Gazette staff writer reporting
> on the PCC extension to Fisherman's Wharf in his March
> 19 column "Getting Around" suggested a line in Pittsburgh
> between downtown, the Convention Center and the Strip
> as a tourist line and a practical transit service. Such a service
> would probably be under the control of the Port Authority.
> Outside of Alleghency County it would be under PUC
> control.
> 
> Other important considerations involve safety regulation,
> insurance, possible union conflicts and community
> representation.
> 
> Its a big project that affects many others.  Certainly Arden
> and the Incline need to be protected.  And it cant work
> without PAT's support. Money is limited for new projects.
> 
> Harold H Geissenheimer, March 20, 2000.
> 
> -
> -

James B. Holland
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