Why a streetcar?

The national streetcar movement has shown that streetcars are a key link in any dynamic and effective urban transit system. Light rail and rapid transit, focusing on moving people long distances at high speeds, are the "freeways" of transit. Streetcars are like local streets — operating at a pace that is friendly and welcoming, encouraging residents to leave their cars at home, and extending visitors' "walking range," inviting them to explore the city beyond the Inner Harbor.

More important, streetcars contribute to “quality of place” — a key competitive factor for cities in the new economy. Streetcars have been shown to encourage higher-density, high-value development along their routes. They will make Baltimore a more livable, walkable city.

Will this project conflict with the red line?

The capital cost estimate for a seven mile loop (such as Charles Street) is only $195 million (in 2010 dollars) compared to $1.8 billion for the Red Line. There are federal grant programs and bond funding sources specifically available for projects of this type and scale. The streetcar project would not compete with the Red Line for funding.