TacomaGeekery
Share via:
May. 21, 2008 at 12:11pm
Streetcars/Light Rail vs. Buses
Why bother with expensive streetcars when buses can do the same thing?
This topic has arisen a number of times, and I thought it might be helpful to explain some advantages of a streetcar system over a bus system - especially because the advantages aren't as obvious and clear-cut. There are a number of things that a streetcar system can offer that bus lines cannot and vice-versa. Realistically, I think they can both complement each other and should not be viewed as mutually-exclusive solutions to moving people around.
Ridership
The largest advantage a light rail system can offer is in ridership. Statistically, streetcars/light rail attracts more ridership than buses. According to Portland Streetcar Inc. (PSi), "a streetcar attracts 30-50% more ridership than a comparable bus. It is thus plausible to assume an average 40% more ridership attracted to streetcar service. In other words, a comparable bus service would attract approximately 30% lower ridership."
In a study by Leroy Demery and J. Wallace Higgins, "Peak-Period Service Supply Versus Observed Passenger Utilization for Rapid Bus and Rapid Rail Modes" (Transportation Research Board, 2003), the following ridership capacities were determined:
- Light Rail/Streetcar: 4.9 passengers/min
- Bus: 2.9 passengers/min
Without getting caught up in the reasons behind why this is the case, we have to acknowledge that we cannot reasonably force people to use public transit. Instead, we have to attract them to it in much the same way a business might attract customers to its product or service. Looking at it from this perspective, we can attribute the added cost of a light rail line to be an investment in increased ridership. The money is essentially going towards boosting the use of public transit, reducing the number of cars on the road, and mobilizing a larger portion of the local population.
Also, the added costs actually disappear over time, as a "streetcar becomes dramatically more cost-effective, carrying trips at significantly lower unit cost as ridership and the system size grow." (link)
Development
Streetcar lines have also historically catalyzed development of local business districts connected to them. The end result is an additional boost in economic development for the region that would not have happened otherwise. Think of it as fertilizer for local businesses. Certainly it's not guaranteed to have businesses sprout up like crazy, but if an area is already favorable the potential growth can be amplified.
Reliability
A streetcar system, especially one with the right-of-way on traffic signals, can operate under a more reliable schedule. While bus systems are subject to traffic conditions, a streetcar system's exposure to these circumstances is significantly lower. This results in more consistent arrival/departure times at designated stops. This builds a certain degree of trust with the public that is often nonexistent with bus systems. One is more likely to use public transit if he or she can more readily rely on their ride leaving the stop at a consistent time.
Let's Discuss
Enough of my yacking, I'd like to hear some other points of view. What are some advantages/disadvantages you see? Is a streetcar system worth it to you? What do you see in Tacoma's future?
 by Erik on 5/21/2008 @ 1:06pm | Thus, streetcars (in Tacoma's case LINK) are simply more attractive to users. Buses seem to be something that transportation experts say people should like when they don't.
Then there is the romance factor. I can't imagine Tony Bennett signing about buses in San Francisco. Let's revist the song and see how it works. Here's an excerpt from the original song: My love waits there in San Francisco Above the blue and windy sea When I come home to you, San Francisco, Your golden sun will shine for me! I left my heart in San Francisco High on a hill, it calls to me To be where little cable cars Climb halfway to the stars! And the morning fog will chill the air Here's the bus version of the same song: I left my heart in San Francisco High on a hill, it calls to me To be where large diesel buses Climb halfway to the stars! And the morning fog will chill the air See? Its just isn't the same. |
 by tacoma1 on 5/21/2008 @ 1:23pm | Just off the top of my head I can think of several advantages that Street Cars and Light Rail have over buses.
One, they run on clean (at least in the PNW) non CO2 emitting relatively cheap electricity, and are therefore much more environmental beneficial. Two, by using electricity, we help to lower our dependence on foreign oil. Three, they are quieter than a diesel bus. Four, they have a low floor to enter and exit which makes it more comfortable for: elderly people, travelers with luggage, people in wheel chairs can enter and exit easily (it can take 5 - 10 min. to board a wheel chair on some buses). Five, they look cool. |
 by izenmania on 5/21/2008 @ 1:31pm | Biggest weekness of light rail: inflexibility of routes. Every few months, not only does Pierce Transit adjust the times of schedules, they are also able to adjust the routes slightly as new neighborhoods are built, construction occurs, etc. In addition to which, the addition or subtraction of a route is a purely logistic issue, with no major construction required. Light rail is fine for connecting the major districts to each other, but on the whole it cannot function alone. You need buses to get into the neighborhoods. |
 by Nick on 5/21/2008 @ 1:38pm | @izenmania
I agree, I think a light rail system is best suited as the backbone for a public transit system. |
 by fredo on 5/21/2008 @ 1:43pm | Street cars & light rail have some advantages over busses. However, I'm not convinced that the public is prepared for the price sticker. Even with soaring gasoline costs I don't think the voters will raise taxes. |
by izenmania on 5/21/2008 @ 1:49pm | I think it's important to make sure that people will ride it before building it. Also, I don't think that an expanded free light rail system will fly here. Too many tax dollars that will annoy the people who don't use it. A combination of some tax funding and a reasonable ticket price (probably similar to the costs of riding a bus) would probably be the most fiscally responsible. |
by tacoma1 on 5/21/2008 @ 1:59pm | "Biggest weakness of light rail: inflexibility of routes." Granted, but this often leads to transit oriented development, and minimizing urban sprawl. Look at what is happening in Kent around the Sounder Station. Along the lines of if you build it, they will come. I think that many people in Tacoma want Light Rail for its attractiveness and urban revitalization aspects.
It also works well for highly dense regions, (which we aren't yet but may be by the time the system is built out) because you can add capacity by adding an additional car and still use the same Transit Operator. That being said, there are plenty of people that will hop on a train or street car, but never get on a bus. I also think that anyone that currently uses the bus system would be happy to have additional capacity with street cars. Also, if anyone went to Dan Burden's talk on walkable communities........one of his points was that if you build an attractive walkable community where people actually want to go to, more people show up, and then since people are using the services, eating at the restaurants, and shopping at the local stores, you end up with higher property values, and the tax dollars from sales and real estate are automatically available to pay for the improvements. He also made an off the cuff comment that maybe something like a funicular would be an effect way to get people up and down the hills in Tacoma. |
by izenmania on 5/21/2008 @ 2:14pm | Transit-oriented development only goes so far... there is way too much sprawl already to properly reverse the process.
I would certainly be happy to see the streetcars built, but as a supplement/spine to the bus system, rather than as a replacement. |
 by Elliot on 5/21/2008 @ 3:02pm | Hmm. I'm a little concerned about how many of the people cited in this post are currently employed in the streetcar industry.
As a new transplant from Seattle, I'm always surprised how few people commute on Tacoma buses. In Seattle, most buses are packed around rush hour, while Tacoma buses are empty at these times. I get the part of this about speed and reliability, but quite frankly, I don't have any patience for people who would thumb their noses at a bus but would ride a street car based on some weird prejudice. @tacoma1 (re: your first post): In terms of noise and environmental impacts of buses, I'd point out that all King County Metro buses are either fully electric (overhead trolly style) or hybrid gas/electric, so there can be lots of steps taken to mitigate those effects. In terms of low boarding floors, Portland uses buses with extremely low floors, you should check those out. |
by Nick on 5/21/2008 @ 3:24pm | "I don't have any patience for people who would thumb their noses at a bus but would ride a street car based on some weird prejudice." But isn't that the point? These are the people that drive everywhere, that make the parking requirement for downtown so strongly supported (stunting downtown's development), and clog arterial roads every day. I'm with you - people ought to suck it up and take the bus. But if they're not going to do that, I'd rather invest in something they will use rather than let things get worse simply on principle. Public transit is a product, and just like we learned in the 50's, sellers don't dictate what consumers want to buy - consumers do. If more consumers will buy streetcars than they will buses, then let's build some streetcars. |
 by boearc on 5/21/2008 @ 3:27pm | I think it is damn important to separate LIght Rail thinking from Street Car thinking - they are two completely different beast that happen to have similar attributes. The bLINK is a sledge hammer instead of a nut cracker to acheive a similar result of shuttling pedestrians from one location to another. The bLINK should have been a Street Car System - at 1/10th the cost per mile and it would have flowed with traffic rather than stopping it AND it could have frequent stop - I think RR Anderson has already 'done' a cartoon regarding ST politics. Light Rail is much better for going much greater distances with greater speeds. Downtown needs Street Cars for new routes - and then have ST run the Light Rail to connect to SeaTac and the Mall (and I would say Lakewood as well - but I have been told repeatedly that is a futile lament since the that train has already left the station). |
by tacoma1 on 5/21/2008 @ 3:53pm | Elliot,
FYI, I don't work for any street car organization. I have been in Seattle before. I have been on a Seattle electric bus before. I happen to like them. They are nice and quiet, but don't have air conditioning which can be a problem in the summer when you pack it full of sweaty humans. I have nothing against buses, I use the local bus enough to know the schedule without looking it up. Human nature being such as it is, there are alot of people who don't like to ride the bus, but will gladly ride on a street car. If as a community we want to increase transit, street cars can add increased capacity and appeal to a wider customer base. |
by izenmania on 5/21/2008 @ 4:07pm | I don't think that Elliot was compaining of posters working in the streetcar industry, but rather that almost all of the statistics cited come from studies done by streetcar companies. It's reasonable for this to be the case, since they are the most likely to have reason to conduct such studies, but statistics are always skewable, and it would be interesting to see if there are such studies from the other side. |
 by NineInchNachos on 5/21/2008 @ 4:08pm | we're not proposing to build a streetcar system here, we're proposing to RE-build a streetcar system! (sneak peak at our post-oil future)  that said, pierce transit has some fantastic new buses. I like the bus so much now I'm trying to get rid of my car. |
| Post Reply: |
About
I'm just a computer geek that has fallen in love with Tacoma.
So, what's almost as fun as sitting in front of a computer all day? Talking about the growth and development of a new Tacoma, duh!
Follow me on Twitter: @RogWilco
My Geek Blog: www.nickawilliams.com
Getting Married! www.ashleyplusnick.com
Recent Posts
| 1/12 | City Council Meeting Liveblog [9] |
| 12/15 | City Council Meeting Liveblog [5] |
| 12/3 | Tacoma in the 3rd Dimension [4] |
| 11/24 | Tacoma City Council Liveblog [22] |
| 11/17 | City Council Meeting Liveblog [18] |