construction of streetcar line drawing near

Oklahoma City will soon join the ranks of several major cities with modern streetcar systems among their transportation options.

Construction is set to begin in November on the route connecting Midtown, Automobile Alley, Bricktown, the Central Business District and the Core to Shore area. With 22 stop locations, the system will connect major employers, businesses, attractions and residences along the route.

Kansas City, Dallas, Seattle, Tucson and many other cities have recently added or expanded modern streetcar systems. One of the most successful streetcar systems in recent history is the Portland Streetcar, which has been in operation for 15 years and has served 50 million riders as of this month in Portland, Oregon. The system is widely recognized as a very successful driver for economic development in the Pearl District, the area of Portland in which it is located. According to a recent press release, more than 23 million square feet of real estate has been built along the streetcar alignment, including 17,900 residential units. While the streetcar wasn’t the only factor in the development of the district, it clearly has had a significant impact.

This week, the Dallas Streetcar celebrated the extension of its system from downtown to the popular Bishop Arts District. Bishop Arts and the surrounding North Oak Cliff area experienced decades of blight, but the area has seen a great deal of development over the past few years.

Read the full article at The Journal Record.