Savannah once had a robust streetcar network, and we might eventually have one again.
For a variety of reasons, travelers embrace streetcars far more than they do buses. The permanence of streetcars in the urban landscape spurs investment in adjacent corridors and contributes to a sense of community.
Under Executive Director Chadwick Reese, Chatham Area Transit hopes to take the first steps toward a streetcar network that could serve the purposes of locals and of tourists. There seems to be considerable support for the broader vision, but there are devils in the details.
Of course, we already have one streetcar line. While I’m sure there are local folks who routinely hop on the streetcar on River Street, it’s more for show than utility. After all, it only runs from noon-9 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
CAT’s ambitious proposal involves designating a census tract on the west side of downtown as a tax allocation district (TAD) so future increases in property tax revenue could fund two new streetcar lines that would connect with the existing one on River Street.
There had been hopes that the funding plan could be approved before the end of the year so increases in property values could be leveraged as much as possible. But a delay doesn’t kill the project, and some additional time seems warranted to make sure we get this right.
One of CAT’s proposed lines would connect with the River Street tracks and continue south on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard to Gwinnett Street.
Another proposed line would continue west on River Street to Fahm Street and then travel south on Fahm to Turner Boulevard.
But does it make sense to have two lines that run parallel to each other just two blocks apart?
The Fahm line would run next to the new transit center, but the MLK line would be only a block away from the center.
The Fahm line would also border a significant amount of property that is not privately owned, so the opportunities for private investment would be limited.
The Fahm line and the northern portion of the MLK line would also be competing for some of the same customers, which could result in both lines struggling to meet ridership goals.
There would be clear benefits if the initial phases of a streetcar reached as many residents as possible. If we delayed the Fahm line and directed those resources elsewhere, we could make the service available to many more residents.
So I’d like to see more public discussion of possible routes.
For example, if we deferred building the Fahm line, we could extend the MLK line further south, maybe as far as 37th Street. That would make the streetcar accessible to residents of neighborhoods like Cuyler-Brownsville and Metropolitan.
CAT’s project map shows a future extension of the Fahm line going west on Turner Boulevard, jogging over to Louisville Road, and then turning south on Stiles Avenue to the site of the new arena.
If we deferred the Fahm line and simply had the Turner spur begin at MLK, we could extend the first phase of the network much further west.
My suggestions bring a big problem. An extended MLK line or an extended spur into West Savannah would take the project outside the bounds of the TAD as currently envisioned.
And there are other problems with my suggestions — more than I have space to detail here.
I’m just hoping to encourage a broader public conversation than we’ve had so far. I’d argue the entire project would be much more likely to garner public support if it were submitted to broader public scrutiny and if it improved quality of life for as many residents as possible.
And what about a line on the east side of downtown?
Given the uncertainties about funding and about future land use, we are probably many years away from seeing a streetcar line on the east side of downtown.
CAT’s proposed future line extends from River Street into Savannah River Landing. From there, it would work its way a few blocks south into Hitch Village.
That path might turn out to be ideal, but I would like to see existing neighborhoods prioritized, at least until we see some clear signs of development at Savannah River Landing. That could mean service along East Broad Street or along Wheaton Street.
Again, I’d like to see more public discussion before we make too many plans.
You can read more about the funding mechanism and see the map of the proposed lines at http://www.catconnects.com.
City Talk appears every Tuesday and Sunday. Bill Dawers can be reached via billdawers@comcast.net and http://www.billdawers.com. Send mail to 10 E. 32nd St., Savannah, GA 31401.