Streetcars Revisited: Navigating Nostalgia and Practicality For Mass Transit

No matter how one feels about it, change is inevitable and for better or worse, Texas has changed. Especially in Austin and arguably to a lesser degree, San Antonio. With that change, public sentiments and attitudes from different worlds collide and cause dissention. The subject of high speed light rail lines is one of great debate here in Central Texas with talks of a commuter-rail service between San Antonio and Austin lingering in limbo for what seems like decades now and one could argue that those in favor of it are those coming from major cities with more mass transit options like light rails.

As a 300 year old city, San Antonio can boast itself as a unique outlier of a city in many ways. We’ve always been proud of our budget-friendly identity, which is perhaps a testament to our leadership’s commitment to avoiding frivolous expenses. One such example of that is San Antonio’s visionary leap to ditch streetcars in favor of buses long before any other major city did. To this day, San Antonio is the largest city in America that hasn’t embraced urban rail transit.

Top Ten Major Cities and Year of Streetcar Discontinuation:

1. San Antonio, Texas | 1933
2. New York City, NY | 1957
3. Philadelphia, PA | 1957
4. Chicago, IL | 1958
5. Washington, D.C. | 1962
6. Boston, MA | 1962
7. San Francisco, CA | 1982
8. Los Angeles, CA | 1963
9. Detroit, MI | 1956
10. Pittsburgh, PA | 1964

By 1926, San Antonio’s streetcar system hit its peak with a remarkable 90 miles of track. However, newspapers at the time hint at a persistent public frustration with the constant overcrowding and delays on the tracks. They declared trolleys as hopelessly outdated. In fact, one bold publication even advocated for city buses to oust them from the transportation scene altogether. Which San Antonio did of course. It didn’t make economic sense then and the argument now is how to make economic sense of it presently.

The question of the day is whether or not the attachment to a railway system is because of the power of nostalgia or actual effectiveness. Supporters of streetcars argue that they are essential for any major city, both for environmental reasons and practicality. They believe that light rail systems can alleviate traffic congestion and provide a sustainable mode of transportation. However, critics contend that these projects have failed to address San Antonio’s growing transportation problems and have consumed significant amounts of taxpayer money. They accuse proponents of manipulating idealized images of the old streetcar systems.

In recent years, there has been a resurgence of electric railways, in cities like Los Angeles and other major cities across the country. Light rail systems have been reintroduced, and new lines have been established however the debate surrounding their effectiveness and cost continues. Supporters emphasize their environmental benefits and potential to improve transportation, while critics question their impact on congestion and the significant investment required.

Here is a list of the top 10 largest cities in the United States that have a light rail system:

1. New York City, New York: The New York City Subway, including light rail lines, began operation in 1904.
2. Los Angeles, California: The Los Angeles Metro Rail system, including light rail lines, began operation in 1990.
3. Chicago, Illinois: The Chicago ‘L’ train system, including light rail lines, began operation in 1892.
4. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The SEPTA Subway-Surface Trolley Lines, including light rail lines, began operation in the early 1900s with subsequent updates.
5. San Francisco, California: The Muni Metro, a light rail system, began operation in 1980 with updates to the existing streetcar lines.
6. Boston, Massachusetts: The Green Line, a light rail system, began operation in various sections between 1897 and 1959.
7. Seattle, Washington: The Link Light Rail system began operation in 2009 with subsequent expansions.
8. Denver, Colorado: The RTD Light Rail system began operation in 1994 with subsequent expansions and updates.
9. San Diego, California: The San Diego Trolley, a light rail system, began operation in 1981 with subsequent expansions.
10. Portland, Oregon: The MAX Light Rail system began operation in 1986 with subsequent expansions.

Despite the evolving sentiment in Texas towards embracing light rail systems, there remains a constant factor impeding progress: the enduring economic influence of opposition groups. While cities like Dallas and Houston have spent the last two decades building rail systems from the ground up to alleviate the burden of highway congestion, San Antonio has taken a different path. Back in 2000, voters rejected funding for a light rail system in a referendum, and the idea lacks sufficient political and business support for revival.

Compounding the challenge, President Donald Trump’s proposed 2018 budget for Amtrak could spell the end for all long-distance trains, including the leisurely ones that traverse Texas. This further weakens support for rail service in a region where Trump’s loyal followers reside.

So many questions and concerns remain about the future of light rail systems in San Antonio. It will be interesting to see what the future holds.