Modern Street Car System Proposed for Dallas - BUT WOULD YOU RIDE???

Street cars are a great idea. Unfortunately, I personally would not ride any mass transit vehicle as I fear catching tuberculosis from the coughing, diseased masses. Streetcar conductors should be armed and protected by a 1/2-inch plexiglass barrier and have full authority to execute on the spot any punk that tries to rob passengers.

NO WAY!!!

What I meant is that I am with you 100%. There is no way I would get onto ANY public transport in Dallas.

So you don't fly or eat in restaraunts or go out in public, then?

Where do you live that has so much armed robbery on public transportation?

I know you are trying to pick a fight. Here you go. You can have my seat...

http://www.wisn.com/news/16280544/detail.html

Do you live in Dallas?
I do.
DART's Light Rail system is really excellent and expanding to surrounding cities.
Street car would be a wonderful idea as it would decongest the roads and if you work Downtown and want to eat at Uptown, the Street car would be perfect. No need to use your car.
I would definitely ride it!

I use all aspects of DART all of the time. Like any city it depends on where and when you use it.

If you are going through a rough part of town at 11:00PM then you will see a whole different world than riding from the more affluent burbs during morning rush hour.

All in all it is reliable, cheap and clean during the hours I use it.

BTW AlexTx, I agree the addition of more trolley car routes in the inner city would be a boon. I am looking out the window right now at the McKinney Ave trolley car and it is great for short hops. The buses work for getting around, but there is something about a trolley car that makes it unique.

I lived in Boston for a year and loved the the T down there... I hope they figure out some public transit for OC. I wouldnt mind giving up my car and saving over $800 a month.

Theres a light rail system along with a multi-city connecting train where I live. They're pretty popular, actually. I've only been on the light rail twice. The problem with public tranportation is sanitation issues. If they were clean, I'd definitely consider riding on them.

Sounds like it can work, will help stimulate local business and hopefully take a few people out of their cars. The less we drive, the less we would eventually pay for gas. Only as long as it caters to what the people want though since they will be the users.

This would be nice for people downtown, but I think expanding the DART rail would be a better, broader investment that would facilitate more people. Allen is "only" 28 miles from downtown, and we rarely drive that far for entertainment, but if/when we are down there, I am pretty sure we'd use something like this. Too bad most people would need to drive and park to get near it.

I wonder if all the folks buying up all the Uptown highrise condos would use it?

I'm pretty sure it's comming, since the line currently stops at Parker Rd. I don't see why they would not expand the line from there afterward.
They are currently building a line to Carrollton.
Allen will take some time since you are sooooooo far away! ;)

I agree with you with buses being a viable alternative transport option. In Mississauga, Ontario, they have a fantastic busing system, for a city of about 700,000 people. It seemed like equally as many people rode the bus, as drove; or they just walked. You can get anywhere in and around the city with their setup.

However, I think the main reason for that is the high costs associated with owning a car up there. I wasn't much of a fan of the Toronto area trolley system.

Adding a rail system or busing system wouldn't help the DFW area, if some kind of congestion charge wasn't in place first, to deter people from using cars. You'd just be adding congestion to congestion.

I used to live in this neighborhood, and of course I would use the street car. For those that don't know, this is an area with lots of entertainment options - restaurants, bars, movie theaters, etc. - and of course tight parking. It's so much easier to jump on mass transit, have your fun, and not worry about the car.

I live in Columbus, OH. The city passed-up on the opportunity to install a light rail system and is now wishing they did it years ago. Their bus system is OK, but it would be great to have a rail line along the outerbelt (I-270) around the city and multiple lines connecting downtown Columbus with points N, S, E, and W of the city and extending past the outerbelt.

Most people here drive to work alone, but would admit if there was a rail system, they'd use it in a heartbeat.