Streetcar set to be derailed

The idea of streetcar system in Charlottesville has been at least temporarily stalled trying leave the station.

A slim majority of councilors signaled late Monday night that they are unlikely to devote hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxpayer money to studying the feasibility of building a 3-mile streetcar line from the Downtown Transit Station to the Barracks Road Shopping Center.

Such a system, which has been in discussion for five years, would cost upwards of $70 million and transform both the West Main Street corridor and how residents get around town.

Councilors will likely make a final decision on funding the study after a more detailed debate in July or August. In the meantime, streetcar advocates will be talking with local property owners and developers about pooling money for the study.

Proponents say that a sleek streetcar that’s quiet and energy-efficient would entice people out of their cars who heretofore have been reluctant to ride the bus. The construction of a streetcar line in Tacoma, Wash., caused a 140 percent spike in transit ridership, advocates point out.

Equally important, a streetcar system would spur development along the West Main Street, which is just beginning a revitalization phase.

“A streetcar is as much a transportation tool as a way to leverage redevelopment in that corridor,” said Bill Watterson, the head of the city’s bus system, who has not taken a position on feasibility of a streetcar.

But a majority of councilors has not been swayed enough by these arguments to commit to spending city money for a $200,000 to $300,000 study.

Though federal grants are available, Charlottesville might not be able to compete with larger cities for the limited pool of funds. And skeptics say that it would be hard to raise enough money through local means, such as new taxes on properties near the tracks, developer contributions and increased parking fees.

“To me the issue is how much is it worth to invest in something we may not be able to afford and there may not be a funding stream for,” Councilor David Brown said Monday.

A streetcar system is not the only proposal on the table to improve the area’s transit service. Charlottesville and Albemarle County next year will seek permission from the General Assembly to create a regional transit authority, which would allow the localities to enact local taxes or fees to pay for improvements.

Mayor Dave Norris and Councilor Holly Edwards both said they are intrigued by a streetcar system, but would like to wrap any study into a larger look at the region’s transit service - a process that will begin later this year.

Councilors Julian Taliaferro and Satyendra Huja, however, said they would like to form a public-private partnership and split the costs of the study with the development community. Even if a streetcar system is not viable in the next few years, the city should start the exploration process so as to be able to compete for federal funding, Taliaferro said.

“If we want to be prepared in the event that the feds release some money, we would be in a better position if we had the study done,” he said.

Frank Stoner, who owns property on West Main Street, is optimistic that the development community and area organizations would step up to the plate if the city chipped in half of the cost.

“If the city will take a leadership role in funding this, I think private funds will come along,” he said.

Streetcar advocates say that councilors are not looking at the big picture. Although $200,000 to $300,000 might be a lot of money now, that figure will pale in comparison to the future expansion of the city’s tax base if a streetcar line comes to fruition, they say.

Portland, Ore., for example, has seen $2.28 billion in new development within a two-block radius of its streetcar line since it opened seven years ago. And streetcars produce 4.5 times as much in new development as is invested up front, said Zachary Shahan, executive director of the Alliance for Community Choice in Transportation.

“The biggest benefit to the streetcar is it channels development back to the urban core of the city … rather than on the outskirts of Charlottesville and Albemarle County,” he said.