What Really Happened to the City Streetcar: How the Government Ruined Urban Transportation
Streetcars were ubiquitous, operating in many cities across the globe. They were also once a common sight in cities across North America. They provided a convenient and affordable way to get around, and they helped to shape the development of many urban areas – connecting neighborhoods and fostering metropolitan development. However, by the middle of the 20th century, streetcars had largely disappeared from American cities.
A Brief History of Streetcars
The first streetcars appeared in American cities in the early 1830s. The first line was opened in New York City in 1832, and it ran from downtown to Harlem. Other cities soon followed suit, and by the end of the 19th century, streetcars were a common sight in most major American cities.
Streetcars reached their peak of popularity in the early 20th century. At this time, they were the primary form of public transportation in many cities. However, the rise of the automobile in the 1920s and 1930s led to a decline in streetcar ridership. As more people began to own cars, they had less need for streetcars.
Their decline in ridership came with a few unforeseen developments and resulted in unintended consequences. For instance, streetcars were demonstrably more efficient than buses, as they could carry more passengers and they did not have to stop at traffic lights as often.
Streetcars were more environmentally friendly, producing less pollution than cars or buses, primarily because many ran on electric grids rather than burning fossil fuels. They also helped to revitalize urban areas, attracting new businesses and residents due to their ubiquity and ease of use. Plus, they were a more comfortable and enjoyable way to travel than cars or buses.
What Really Happened to the City Streetcar: How the Government Destroyed Urban Transportation
So, with all those benefits, why did streetcars disappear from cities? They were affordable, ran all day and even during the evening and overnight, and also ran so frequently, people didn’t need to plan around their arrival and departure – something necessary for passengers of buses and subway trains. Unfortunately, streetcars became a casualty largely because of government action and policy. Here are the real reasons why the streetcar disappeared from cities:
- Government policies and urban planning. Government policies big played a role in the decline of streetcars. Investments in road infrastructure were often prioritized over public transit, and zoning regulations sometimes favored car-oriented urban planning, leading to a reduction in streetcar routes and service. In addition, local governments allowed private passenger cars to drive on streetcar tracks. Once cars began to appear on the road, they could drive on streetcar lanes, which made it difficult for streetcars to operate efficiently.
- Buses. Municipal bus lines introduced and run by cities were supposed to be a flexible and cost-effective alternative to streetcars. Ostensibly, they could navigate through different routes, were not limited by tracks, and required less infrastructure investment. Bus systems were intended to let cities adapt their transit routes more easily to changing population and traffic patterns. In fact, in Los Angeles, the widespread adoption of diesel buses led to the abandoning of all streetcar systems on March 31, 1963, ending nearly 90 years of streetcar service in the region.
- Light Rail Transit (LRT). Light rail systems, characterized by smaller vehicles operating on tracks embedded in streets or dedicated rights-of-way, would eventually become replacements for streetcars by cities, counties, and state governments. LRT is supposed to provide a compromise between the flexibility of buses and the capacity of traditional streetcar systems.
- City-run metro and subway systems. In larger metropolises with higher population densities, city-funded and run underground subway and elevated train systems became the backbone of public transit. These systems would theoretically offer higher capacity, more speed, and increased efficiency. However, these systems’ construction and maintenance costs were and remain significantly higher than streetcars or light rail. What’s more, these systems are routinely plagued by operational problems.
- Financial challenges. Streetcar systems were often operated by private companies that faced financial difficulties. The costs of maintaining the tracks, vehicles, and other infrastructure coupled with low ridership in some areas made it challenging for these companies to sustain their operations. Unlike other forms of urban public transportation, local governments did not provide subsidies to streetcar companies, resulting in further financial strain.
- Suburbanization. As cities expanded outward, urban sprawl reduced the population density in the central areas. Lower population densities made it less cost-effective to maintain and operate streetcar lines, leading to their abandonment. The growth of suburbs in the mid-20th century caused a shift in the population away from the city centers, making streetcars less relevant for the daily commute of many residents. Suburban development often needed more proper infrastructure for streetcars, something local governments would not fund, which further contributed to their decline.
- Rise of automobiles. One of the primary reasons for the decline of streetcars was the surging popularity of automobiles. The mass production of cars in the early 20th century provided people with a sense of freedom and flexibility in their travel. As more individuals began to own cars, they shifted away from public transportation, including streetcars, leading to a decline in ridership and profitability. Although, this didn’t happen completely organically. The federal government heavily subsidized auto manufacturers during WW2, with General Motors being one of the biggest benefitting companies, to produce both private vehicles and commercial public transport, particularly buses and related supplies.
- Lobbying by automobile and oil industries. The automobile and oil industries actively lobbied for road and highway investments while undermining public transportation, including streetcar systems. This lobbying played a significant role in the prioritization of automobile infrastructure over public transit and politicians at all levels of government benefited from such lobbying efforts.
Additionally, streetcars disappeared due to the two world wars and economic impact. The two World Wars and their aftermaths caused economic disruptions that affected public transportation. Rationing of resources during wartime made it difficult for streetcar systems to obtain necessary materials and maintenance, while post-war economic growth encouraged the expansion of automobile usage.
The disappearance of streetcars from cities can be attributed to a confluence of factors, including the rise of automobiles, changes in urban development patterns, and lobbying efforts by competing industries. But, it was ultimately government policy and action that caused the demise of the streetcar.
