Cato Daily Podcast
Streetcars Won't Solve Any of Your City's Problems
Jun 29, 2024
Urban transportation expert Marc Joffe discusses the limited benefits and high costs of streetcars, highlighting how they prioritize politics over practicality. He explores the financial implications of streetcars in cities like St. Louis and San Francisco, comparing them to buses and cable cars. Joffe also talks about the potential benefits of privatizing streetcars for efficiency and profitability.
13:55
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Quick takeaways
- Streetcars are heavily subsidized by taxpayers, costing around $10 per trip, making them inefficient for mass transit.
- Buses and bus rapid transit offer more flexibility and cost-effectiveness compared to streetcars for public transportation.
Deep dives
High Taxpayer Subsidies for Streetcars
Streetcars are costly to operate and heavily subsidized by taxpayers. Data from the Federal Transit Administration shows that the average streetcar ride is subsidized by around $10 per trip. This significant taxpayer burden does not even cover the construction costs, making streetcars a costly transportation option to maintain. Streetcars are limited in their commuting utility, often serving short distances in downtown areas, leading to minimal ridership and high operational costs.
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