Opinion

Streetcar project doesn't benefit S.A.

This Tucson roadblock was set up during streetcar construction. A similar situation in San Antonio would damage businesses without providing any benefit. This Tucson roadblock was set up during streetcar construction. A similar situation in San Antonio would damage businesses without providing any benefit. Photo: Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily Star Photo: Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily Star Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Streetcar project doesn't benefit S.A. 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

I want to state at the outset that I do not work downtown. I do not live downtown. I do not own any property or have financial interest downtown. However, since I moved to San Antonio in 1957, I have been involved either as a volunteer or an investor in many significant downtown projects. These include HemisFair '68, the San Antonio Spurs and the expansion of HemisFair Arena, the Alamodome, Sunset Station and the renovation of several office buildings and hotels.

Downtown is vital to our city. It is vital to the thousands of employees who travel there each day to their places of business, to larger business owners such as hotels and hospitals and to the millions of tourists who visit each year. It is most vital to those merchants who provide products and services for the foregoing needs. I am writing to express my opposition to the proposed streetcar system. I am opposed for three basic reasons.

First, a construction period of three to four years will wreak havoc upon all constituents of downtown facilities. Many merchants referred to above are small businesses that simply do not have the reserves to be denied access to their businesses for such a long period of time. The larger businesses, namely the hotels, will lose occupancy and the hotel occupancy tax, which is a significant revenue source to the city of San Antonio.

At a time when city leaders are promoting downtown growth, this project would be an impediment. The convention business will be severely and negatively affected as access to many common and popular attractions will be limited. Two major Fiesta parades that use Broadway will have to be redirected. Due to the rapid growth and success of the San Antonio economy, almost every citizen has been exposed in recent years to road closings, construction delays, detours and general inconvenience of accessibility. This certainly has a negative impact on attitudes, outlooks and general well-being.

Second, the system does not enhance the speed, mobility, accessibility or convenience offered by our present mass-transit system. The streetcars travel 8 to 15 mph, while buses travel the speed limit. No new routes are created that are not presently served by existing transit options. In business terms, I would categorize this as lack of return on investment, meaning the expenditure of significant funds and effort while achieving questionable benefit. Downtown businesses were asked to invest but refused, citing undeterminable benefits.

Third, the total cost as per original estimates by VIA Metropolitan Transit approaches $500 million, or $83 million per mile based on the 5.9-mile proposed route. It has been calculated that the entire route could be coated with 5 microns of gold for the same investment. One can also calculate, based on the 5.9-mile route, that the total cost including the streetcars is $16,000 per foot. The massive cost comes from the investment in cars and rail, but mostly from excavation and relocation of all underground utilities. Would you prefer streets of gold? You can have them for less money than streetcars.

Why do I care? Because I love San Antonio; it is a wonderful city from every aspect. I am a huge supporter of public works and improvement in quality of life. The streetcar project does not improve the quality of life. Ideally, public expenditures should benefit all citizens. The streetcar project benefits no one. We have many other needs that would serve a broader base of our population than such a project. These needs include — but are not limited to — Alamo Plaza, bridges, roads and other infrastructure, HemisFair Plaza, parks, athletic facilities and education. I firmly believe that given the factors above and given options for investment of tax dollars, our citizens should have the right to vote on the streetcar system.

I would like all citizens to focus on three questions:

1. Why are we doing this?

2. Whom does it benefit?

3. Given the enormous costs, are there not other more important needs?

If this were a private investment, no businessman would touch it. Why ask the public to make such a hopeless investment?

I encourage our leaders to listen to and heed the desires of our citizens.

Red McCombs is a San Antonio businessman and has lived in the Alamo City since 1957.