The Purpose, Function, and Performance of Streetcar Transit in the Modern U.S
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Funded by U.S. Department of The Purpose, Function, and Transportation and California Department of Transportation Performance of Streetcar Transit in the Modern U.S. City: A Multiple-Case-Study Investigation MTI Report 12-39 MINETA TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE MTI FOUNDER Hon. Norman Y. Mineta The Norman Y. Mineta International Institute for Surface Transportation Policy Studies was established by Congress in the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA). The Institute’s Board of Trustees revised the name to Mineta MTI BOARD OF TRUSTEES Transportation Institute (MTI) in 1996. Reauthorized in 1998, MTI was selected by the U.S. Department of Transportation through a competitive process in 2002 as a national “Center of Excellence.” The Institute is funded by Congress through the Founder, Honorable Norman Thomas Barron (TE 2015) Ed Hamberger (Ex-Officio) Michael Townes* (TE 2014) United States Department of Transportation’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration, the California Legislature Mineta (Ex-Officio) Executive Vice President President/CEO Senior Vice President through the Department of Transportation (Caltrans), and by private grants and donations. Secretary (ret.), US Department of Strategic Initiatives Association of American Railroads Transit Sector Transportation Parsons Group HNTB Vice Chair Steve Heminger (TE 2015) The Institute receives oversight from an internationally respected Board of Trustees whose members represent all major surface Hill & Knowlton, Inc. 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In addition to publishing the studies, the Institute Mineta Transportation Institute Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers President San José State University Board (Caltrain) Union Station Redevelopment Education also sponsors symposia to disseminate research results Corporation The educational goal of the Institute is to provide graduate-lev- to transportation professionals and encourages Research el education to students seeking a career in the development Associates to present their findings at conferences. The and operation of surface transportation programs. MTI, through World in Motion, MTI’s quarterly newsletter, covers Directors Research Associates Policy Oversight Committee San José State University, offers an AACSB-accredited Master of innovation in the Institute’s research and education pro- Karen Philbrick, Ph.D. Asha Weinstein Agrawal, Ph.D. Frances Edwards, Ph.D. Science in Transportation Management and a graduate Certifi- grams. 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With the active assistance of the California San José State University San José State University Peter Haas, Ph.D. Education Director Katherine Kao Cushing, Ph.D. Diana Wu Enviromental Science Martin Luther King, Jr. Library Donna Maurillo San José State University San José State University Communications Director DISCLAIMER Dave Czerwinski, Ph.D. Brian Michael Jenkins Marketing and Decision Science The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and accuracy of the information presented National Transportation Safety and San José State University herein. This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Security Center Program and the California Department of Transportation, in the interest of information exchange. This report does not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the U.S. government, State of California, or the Mineta Transportation Institute, who assume no liability Asha Weinstein Agrawal, Ph.D. for the contents or use thereof. This report does not constitute a standard specification, design standard, or regulation. National Transportation Finance Center REPORT 12-39 THE PURPOSE, FUNCTION, AND PERFORMANCE OF STREETCAR TRANSIT IN THE MODERN U.S. CITY: A MULTIPLE-CASE-STUDY INVESTIGATION Jeffrey Brown, PhD Hilary Nixon, PhD Enrique Ramos, MArch, MP February 2015 A publication of Mineta Transportation Institute Created by Congress in 1991 College of Business San José State University San José, CA 95192-0219 TECHNICAL REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient’s Catalog No. CA-MTI-14-1201 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date The Purpose, Function, and Performance of Streetcar Transit in the Modern U.S. February 2015 City: A Multiple-Case-Study Investigation 6. Performing Organization Code 7. Authors 8. Performing Organization Report Jeffrey Brown, PhD, Hilary Nixon, PhD, and Enrique Ramos, MArch, MP MTI Report 12-39 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. Mineta Transportation Institute College of Business 11. Contract or Grant No. San José State University DTRT12-G-UTC21 San José, CA 95192-0219 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Covered California Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Final Report Office of Research—MS42 Office of the Assistant Secretary for 14. Sponsoring Agency Code P.O. Box 942873 Research and Technology Sacramento, CA 94273-0001 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 15. Supplemental Notes 16. Abstract The streetcar has made a remarkable resurgence in the United States in recent years. However, despite the proliferation of streetcar projects, there is remarkably little work on the streetcar’s role as