The existing right-of-way along the median of Delaware Avenue/
The Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO), our bistate transit
Columbus Boulevard could accommodate a streetcar line. The right-
agency, is evaluating three alternative plans to finance and build
of-way in the median of Delaware Avenue/Columbus Boulevard extends south
a streetcar or trolley line along the central Delaware. This effort is a
from Race Street past Oregon Avenue to the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal
part of their Alternatives Analysis, the first phase of project development for
at Hoyt Street. It is held by the Philadelphia Belt Line Railroad Company as a
major transit investments that seek federal funding from the Federal Transit
46
part of a century-old agreement with the city. The greatest cost of creating
Administration.47 PATCO hopes to decide on the best possible route in 2008.
a streetcar line is acquiring a right-of-way on which to locate the tracks, which
Each of the three routes being considered will create or extend a trolley or
will not be necessary in this case, as the Delaware Boulevard median provides an
streetcar line north-south along the river within the Belt Line right-of-way that
existing and underutilized right-of-way that will substantially reduce start-up
PATCO says is available, pending negotiations with the railroad on Columbus
costs. It is therefore essential to the future of the riverfront that the right-of-way
Boulevard.48 Each of these new transit-line alternatives will take six to ten
be preserved.
years to complete. Each will require the streetcar to share tracks with freight
Buses must improve transit access in the short term. Transit users must have suitable, reliable transit service during the streetcar’s planning and construction phases, and frequent bus service will fill that need. Even after streetcar service begins, buses will need to offer service to the riverfront from areas of the city that will not have convenient connections to the streetcar line.
rail by operating at different times than Southern New Jersey’s Riverline and Baltimore passenger rail.49 All three plans call for connection to the SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) and PATCO transit systems and for a joint fare agreement between PATCO and SEPTA that will allow easy transfers.50
Streetcars Attract $10 of Private Investment for Every Public Dollar Spent City
Opened
Initial Miles
Initial Cost
Development Near Track
Return on investment
Annual Operating Cost
Little Rock, Arkansas
2004
2
$6 million
$150 million
2400%
$302,000
Portland, Oregon
2001
4.8
$55.2 million
$1.1 billion
1794%
Portland extension
2005
1.2
$18 million
$1.3 billion
750%
Tampa, Florida
2003
2.3
$48.3 million
$1 billion
1970%
* $3.3 million $3.3 million* $2.5 million
Source: Reconnecting America, American Public Transportation Association 51 * $3.3 million is the annual operating cost for both the Portland streetcar and its extension.
Action Plan for the Central Delaware 33