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system except Portland noted the critical lack of data and on. Although occasionally the literature forecasting economic
analysis to demonstrate this perception of positive benefit. benefits for proposed streetcar systems posits that streetcars
Moreover, almost all of the systems described the positive will attract more "creatives" to the area, this idea cannot be
benefits as widely varying over time, especially during the substantiated. Few systems surveyed riders as to purpose of
current economic downturn. trip or demographic composition; of those that have conducted
rider surveys, the primary question has been whether the rider
Some representatives of the systems interviewed also is a resident or visitor (likely related to the goal of increasing
cited perceptions of increased property values and, to a tourism in several of the systems' communities).
lesser extent, lease rates along streetcar routes. Other than in
Memphis, however, for which these increases were analyzed Almost all of the system operators interviewed consid-
systematically as part of a larger study for the city of Char- ered these economic-related questions as vital, and most
lotte, none of the cities offered published studies to support requested more research around this topic, particularly in
the property value opinions. cases in which the streetcar system is slated for expansion
and significant commitment of public funds.
Changes in related development topics, such as attracting
larger developers or stimulating LEED-designed buildings,
along the streetcar routes were mixed. Several interviewees Changes In Future Land Use Plans And
noted that developers seemed to be interested in projects Regulations
along the streetcar route, and cited this as a positive trend.
Others, however, noted that while projects may have been Several streetcar systems, having demonstrated their viabil-
discussed or proposed, once the streetcar was in place, other ity, currently are being integrated into local land use plan-
factors created delays in realizing these benefits. ning processes. Notably, this is occurring in Savannah,
Portland, Seattle, and San Pedro.
Few systems reported ancillary changes to the built
environment, such as reduced parking garage construction, A handful of cities reported having made explicit changes
increased pedestrian or bike lane investments, or explicit in density or parking requirements either before or as a
reductions in parking requirements if located near street- result of streetcar implementation, including Portland and
car. Many of these types of built environment changes have Seattle. Portland initially constructed the first segment of its
evolved near light rail systems, and perhaps may become streetcar, in part, to explicitly support higher density devel-
more noticeable as contemporary streetcars evolve in the opment in a revitalizing district adjacent to the downtown,
United States. and subsequently has utilized the streetcar as a connector
to the South Waterfront Aerial Tram, which in turn serves
as the key mode of transport to a previously disconnected
Impacts On Economic Development portion of the waterfront now being developed into major
residential, educational, research and development (R&D)
One of the most notable aspects of the survey findings is that uses. In Seattle, the city and a major property developer,
few, if any, of the systems were seeking information regarding Vulcan Properties, see the streetcar as necessary to achieved
the impacts of the streetcar on economic activity such as job planned densities and overall goals for pedestrian-oriented
attraction, change in job mix, retail sales, tax revenues, and so development in the South Lake Union neighborhood.
