Washington, DC
Modern Streetcar In Service
On February 27, 2016 service began on Washington, DC's first
modern streetcar line after a construction and testing period stretching over
seven years. The new line brings back streetcars to the H Street and Benning
Avenue corridor in the city's North East quadrant, which was one of
the heaviest streetcar routes on the first generation system until its abandonment
in 1949.
Mayor Muriel Bowser, whose administration oversaw the final year of testing and the launch of
operations stated her support to extend the line east to the Minnesota Avenue metro station and west
to Georgetown.
The first two cars await completion of dedication speeches so they may make the official first runs
on the new line on February 27, 2016.
On Benning the cars operate adjacent to the median and station platforms are located on the median.
Anacostia
Before construction of the H/Benning route, work had begun on building an initial
streetcar line in Anacostia, in the city's South East district. Despite completion of much of the tracklaying and
construction of a maintenance facility, no further work is underway to complete the line.
Arlington
Across the District border in Arlington, Virginia several years were spent developing plans
and building support for modern streetcars to operate on two corridors to improve transit options in the
traffic-choked region. However, in November 2014 work on these projects came to an abrupt halt as project
opponents carried the day. Click here for more on the demise of these projects.
First Streetcar Displayed
One of the District's three Czech-built streetcars was introduced to the public in May 2010. Click to enlarge the images below:
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| The first modern streetcar to be displayed in downtown Washington, shown as part of the Streetcar Showcase in early May, 2010. |
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| The car posed with two downtown circulator buses, operated by the city Department of Transportation, with which it shares a livery. |
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| The interrior of the car shows the low floor area near the center doors and the stairs leading to the high floor area over the trucks.. |
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| Newly installed track on H Street NE is scheduled to be in use by mid 2014. |
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Overhead Wire Alternatives Forum
On May 6, 2010 members of the APTA Streetcar and Heritage Trolley Subcommittee participated in a forum organized by advocacy group D. C. Surface Transit addressing options for streetcar operation in Washington without overhead wire. Click below to see a copy of that presentation:
News Updates
The
below links are to news notes that further describe streetcar planning in the Washington
area:
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Background
Follow this link for a description of streetcar planning on the DC Department of
Transportation's website:
On November 13, 2004 a groundbreaking ceremony was held in Anacostia for
what was envisaged as a demonstrator modern streetcar line. Intended to
showcase technology for a future system of lines running through the
city, the initial stretch will connect Pennsylvania Avenue with
Bolling Air Force, serving the Anacostia section of the city. Click on the
following links for news articles describing the project.
Subsequently proposals have emerged for additional streetcar
lines in the Washington area, including in nearby Virginia suburbs along the Columbia Pike.
On June 14, 2006, Rosemary Covington, Administrator of the DC Department of
Transportation, presented the status of the Anacostia project at the APTA rail
conference. The following are key points from her presentation:
- A comprehensive alternatives analysis identified streetcars as a good
solution to downtown distribution
- Two delegations who have traveled to Portland support mixed operation
of streetcars in neighborhood streets. Others have concerns so the initial
stretch has been shortened to demonstrate the concept before further
street-running sections are completed.
- The schedule calls for engineering to be complete in Spring 2006,
construction to begin in Fall 2006, and operation to begin in Spring 2007
- Planning continues to include track for a future line in the H Street-Benning
Road coordinator as the streets are rebuilt. Including the track may
increase the reconstruction cost by about $9 million.
- The following images show the planned livery and route systems:
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| The colors being considered for the streetcars are based on DC Cirulcator bus at top. |
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| The planned initial segment is from Bolling Air Force base (lower left) to Anacostia Metro Station (upper right). |
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| Shown here are corridors which will potentially see streetcar service in the long run. |
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