Originally published in the January 16, 2007 print edition of The Lantern. It is posted here unedited.
San Francisco has one. So do Portland, Charlotte and New Orleans, too.
Now, after nine months of research and deliberation, Columbus is on its way to become the next U.S. city to implement a modern streetcar system.
The city has set aside more than $250,000 to explore the possibility of adding streetcars to the mass transit system in Columbus.
One of the primary streetcar routes in consideration would span from the Ohio State campus to German Village, with numerous stops along High Street. The route would help bring OSU students to downtown attractions, said Dawn Tyler Lee, OSU’s spokeswoman on a working group commissioned by Mayor Michael Coleman who studied the feasibility of streetcars.
During his annual State of the City Address last February, Coleman emphasized the lack of adequate transportation to connect surrounding neighborhoods with downtown.
“We must look at new ways to move people easily, safely and conveniently through downtown,” Coleman said. “I’ve heard ideas, I’ve seen proposals, but I’ve seen no results. So, I am asking city leaders to look to Columbus’ future by embracing a part of our past.”
Ahmad Al-Akhras, assistant transportation director for the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Committee, is one of 42 appointed to the working group. He said the group’s objective was to advise Mayor Coleman.
“After six months of work, we decided that streetcars were a reliable, affordable and feasible option for Columbus,” Al-Akhras said.
The working group met with Mayor Coleman and city council members eight times to discuss potential routes and the estimated costs of construction and operation, he said.
“However, there needs to be more work done,” Al-Akhras said. “(The overall cost) still needs further investigation.”
According to a statement published by the mayor’s office Friday, a new committee will be appointed “to determine if a financing plan for constructing and operating streetcars is achievable.”
As determined by the working group, the construction of five different streetcar routes could cost an estimated $128 million; however, Mayor Coleman said he believed the streetcars would generate enough economic development after eight years to cover the initial investment.
“Every expert we’ve spoken with has advised that we will see a positive return on this investment, up to six to one,” Coleman said.
During his address, Coleman emphasized the importance of not raising city taxes to fund the project.
“If the streetcar is initiated, it must be affordable to build and operate without a tax increase,” he said.
In June, the mayor and 14 members of the project team took a trip to Portland to view a successful, working streetcar system in operation, Tyler Lee said.
“We went to meet people involved with Portland’s streetcar system,” she said. “Everyone who went was very impressed.”
Coleman said viewing the system in person reassured him that a similar system in Columbus would not only be achievable, but a great benefit to the city.
“Seeing the success in Portland reinforces that streetcars can help us continue the transformation of Columbus into a vibrant, 24/7 neighborhood for everyone,” Coleman said.
Palmo Aracri, owner of Café Napolitana for more than 15 years, agreed. Aracri has watched his restaurant, nestled in between downtown’s busiest intersection of Broad and High streets, evolve with the city.
“The streetcars will definitely add character, that’s for sure,” he said. “It will help the city, too. And anything that helps my city helps my business.”
