Until the recent emphasis on bus rapid transit, (BRT), light rail transit (LRT) has been the modern symbol of modern mass transit in the United States. When I refer to light rail I am including trams, modern street cars, trolleys that generally follow or parallel streets. It does not include commuter rail (sometime referred to as heavy rail) or subways/metros.

In the United States, Portland, Oregon has received the most press attention and accolades for its light rail system. But, Portland is not alone. Many other cities in the states and around the world employ light rail into their multi-modal transportation network.

As an urban planner and voter, I am concerned is that the distribution of light rail transit funding appears to be lopsided towards urban areas in the south and west. Based on the lists provided below, 19 light rail systems are in the south and west, while only 11 are in the north and east. Similarly, 13 heritage streetcars operate in the south and west, while just two are in the north and east.

Here’s a list of the systems operating or about to open in North America:

Canada

Calgary, Alberta

Edmonton, Alberta

Ottawa, Ontario

Toronto, Ontario

Cuba

Havana

Mexico

Monterrey

Guadalajara

Mexico City

United States (light rail)

Austin, Texas

Baltimore, Maryland

Boston, Massachusetts

Buffalo, New York

Camden, New Jersey

Charlotte, North Carolina

Cleveland, Ohio

Dallas, Texas

Denver, Colorado

Honolulu, Hawaii

Houston, Texas

Jersey City, New Jersey

Los Angeles, California

Minneapolis, Minnesota

New Orleans, Louisiana

Newark, New Jersey

Norfolk, Virginia

Oceanside, California

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Sacramento, California

St. Louis, Missouri

Salt Lake City, Utah

San Diego, California

San Francisco, California

San Jose, California

Seattle, Washington

Tacoma, Washington

Washington, DC (2012)

United States (heritage streetcars)

Charlotte, North Carolina

Dallas, Texas

Galveston, Texas

Kenosha, Wisconsin

Little Rock/North Little Rock, Arkansas

Memphis, Tennessee

New Orleans, Louisiana

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Portland, Oregon

San Francisco, California

San Pedro, California

Savannah, Georgia

Seattle, Washington

Tampa, Florida

Tucson, Arizona

Busiest Light Rail Systems in the USA

City Daily Boardings