The LA Streetcar: See what happens when Downtown connects.

Film about the planned LA Streetcar Line. Prominent Angelinos extol the virtues of the proposed streetcar for Downtown Los Angeles. The film gives viewers a virtual experience of a streetcar gliding down the streets of Los Angeles. Production created by Nelson and Sixta, Los Angeles. Original footage by Brewhouse of Portland, Oregon.

[@plusMETRO]

Brought a tear to my eye. BRING BACK THE STREETCAR!

[@danieljakubik3428]

Good to see the return of the streetcar!

[@TTC4300]

Awesome vid! The cool thing about those streetcars is they hold more people per vehicle than a bus.

[@MegaWunna]

That is why trams/ streetcar/ light rail are so much better then busses in cities

[@eggballo4490]

IT'S 2019!!!! STILL NO STREETCARS!!!!

[@WafflezMCdoodle]

The project has finally been approved

[@dannyamado92]

It would be a plus if the streetcar is painted red and yellow just like the old pacific electric ones!

[@adjutant]

Would be more appropriate to just pain them yellow, like the "yellow cars" of the Los Angeles Railway streetcars. The "red car" scheme of Pacific Electric is more suited to light rail, and in fact, LA Metro has painted some of their light rail trains in Pacific Electric livery on special occasions. On the subject of streetcars, I'm a little apprehensive. They're just "buses on rail" (as this video tells us), more expensive than buses, but they have to stop at all the same traffic lights and deal with all the same car traffic, being on rail doesn't make a difference. I'm not convinced of what a streetcar does better than a bus.

[@mikethemegaman]

this is cool.

[@JORDMAN1001]

Here's an idea: replace all of the LADOT DASH lines with streetcars. The routes are already there. But only when the county finally completes it's Metro Rail expansion. That will take at least 25 years. It's 2019, and there is still a long way to go.......

[@eirugsiongriffiths8563]

We had a light rail system(tramway) in Swansea up until 1960 when it was closed. Now we have bendy busses running in Swansea,South Wales, but they can't use the old tram route, as they can't turn around,nor will they run in the snow. They have also had a number of accidents with other vehicles on the road. A new light rail system is now planned for Swansea which means no more turn around problems as you have double driver cabs. L.A. should go for a new street car,light rail system as it will get people out of the cars,using public transport.

[@emmareels943]

I LOVE SHIRLY TEMPLE

[@4ever242]

Me too... also because she was appointed as the first US ambassador here in Prague after the fall of the Iron Curtain. She was a fascinating, always smiling lady! I was working at Prague Castle when she was received at a gala reception by President Vaclav Havel. I will never forget that, the early 1990s were so euphoric years, I think not just for us Europeans...

[@maxischew514]

Melbourne has a bigger system. They kept theirs and it's pretty huge with a lot of dedicated tram lanes.

[@tjejojyj]

Yes, Melbourne currently has the biggest tram network in the world and it carries almost as many people (~200m./year) as the suburban trains do (~233m./year) . They have put platforms on most of the stops in and around the city and also in some places out in the suburbs.

[@asfairsoftcal]

You need to make it like the Pacific Electric Railway company Make it more extensive street car system send it threw all over the city so you have a greater choice of transit you can take the gold line take the trolley that will take you out to east la to the beach bring back the heart of LA the pride and joy of LA.

[@mhz23]

It's happening!

[@thewaywardpoet]

@757K Thank you, YES! Thank God I'm not the only one who feels that way! LA Public Trans absolutely SUCKS now! Bring back the Red Car! NOW!

[@xxmoviemakerxxx]

This video is incorrect when it says "By 1937, Los Angeles had the most extensive trolley system in the world." Actually, Chicago had the world's largest street railway system, including the longest single fare ride and the longest average ride. Look up "Chicago Surface Lines" on Wikipedia or elsewhere.

[@jamesparson]

They probably took Pacific Electric and added Los Angeles Railway.

[@TonyHaywardJr]

Continue the good work. Our city needs the revitalization as we continue to remain positive and move forward more and more people will become interested in visiting our beautiful city. I hope the street cars will run during late nights to connect people to the restaurants, lounges, clubs, and the many other activities added to the downtown area.

[@alstondutton5850]

The style of the streetcar will make the difference. The new big box Siemen streetcars, which look like Wal-Mart stores on rails, with no character and charm, would be a sad choice if the goal is to create a human scale walkable downtown. I agree with Aaron on having streetcars designed with grace. Take a look at youtube videos of the New Orleans streetcars. There are the old historic ones on the St. Charles line, but then there are the BRAND NEW "painted ladies" (RED with YELLOW livery, perfect for LA)... which run on Canal Street. The bodies were built by the masters of craftsmanship at the New Orleans transit company (not the electrical work) and they are compatible with new requirements, unlike the historic St. Charles line cars. Streetcars should be fun to ride, and the looks make the difference.

[@dragoncivicnola]

I'm from New Orleans and used to ride the Perley Thomas replicas to work on the Canal line. I agree that aesthetics are paramount (check out the vintage PCC cars from the pre and post-war eras) but our cars fall flat in two very important categories when it comes to sustainable development: Each car carries a maximum of 86 people (the max carried by the Portland cars is 156) and there are no provisions for bicycles (and unreliable lifts necessary for ADA compliance). There are lots of factors that need to be considered and truth be told, New Orleans shouldn't invest in any more of the RepliCars in my opinion. They are a kink in the efficiency of the system and there's no way to get around that.

[@jamesparson]

So what do you think of OC Streetcar?

[@nevango0690]

I think they should be part of metro

[@packr72]

Have you ever ridden a bus, I have, even in heavy traffic or accidents they remain on their routes, why? Because the stops are along a said route. Well laid out streetcar systems are not just plopped somewhere on a map. They were and are built down vital streets with high traffic that a bus cannot handle. Back in the day, streetcar companies had to pave the streets, and guess what streetcar service was not overly disrupted.

[@napndash]

Cars are an addiction

[@alexi-divasskinner960]

Meanwhile in Toronto,...

[@michaelchristopher8266]

probably one of the only places on the continent that decided to keep them running.

[@MegaWunna]

A streetcar line is just a tram line

[@packr72]

Check out a system map of the Chicago Surface Lines, they went down every major street and most secondary streets in the city, their were no issues with flexibility

[@henrydtuason]

Haha, I know that bike messenger girl and the guy she's kissing. Caught in the act and immortalized in a marketing ad for all to see.

[@mrxman581]

What's going on wirh this project? It seemed to have a lot of momentum and then nothing

[@awesomeskier12345]

new tramways are very attractive and sleek!!!

[@ChaseWulff]

I looked at the most recently proposed route. A large portion of the route it runs up one street, then over one block and down the next street. Seems like a waste. Shouldn't it cover more ground? Get the most bang for the buck?

[@Loco-motix]

My point was that a rail vehicle is forced to remain on rails and cannot turn or pass without that type of track design. A bus can maneuver in any way without a dependence on rails. There is a reason that cities converted to buses for most surface rail lines.

[@allgoo1964]

LOCO-motix Road and Rail Videos says: "There is a reason that cities converted to buses for most surface rail lines. " == Vehicles on the rails run much more efficiently. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_efficiency_in_transport Excerpt, "Trains are in general one of the most efficient means of transport for freight and passengers...."

[@btomimatsucunard]

yes but after the red cars was torn up, their lines was turned into bus routes and others were buried and homes built on them. It would be great to do it, but finding areas to put street car right of ways will be difficult.

[@xxmoviemakerxxx]

3:10 -- "What do you do about that last mile, that last quarter mile...?". Answer: You *walk* it -- and maybe you'll lose weight and stay in shape! Have we gotten so soft that we need a streetcar just to travel a few blocks? *Especially* in a climate-friendly city like LA?

[@petworthtraction]

+Movie Maker I agree. I'm all in favor of a streetcar but if they have the route as just a simple loop no one will use it.

[@CityLifeinAmerica]

I would rather they put the money to expand the already extensive light rail network. You can walk from the light rail stops for the last quarter mile.

[@jokerjokejoe]

I think Metro should build this not someone eles

[@interurbans]

The idea is great, but the route is poor. The streetcar would create more congestion than it would help. The routing was conceived to serve the largest area possible in a single loop by the designers of the Portland OR streetcar. Of course more streets covered the greater assessment potential However Los Angeles is not Portland and this design will not work well in Los Angeles. First a couplet on Broadway and Hill Streets or the newer design will be to inconvenient for users. Broadway is the street where the development and interest are for the streetcar, not Hill or other selected Streets. Los Angeles City blocks are much longer than Portland Blocks. People visiting Broadway restraints, shops and entertainment venues will not want to walk to Hill Street or further to catch the streetcar back to the South Park or the Grand Ave. attractions or their parked car. To ride the streetcar all the way around will take too long. Broadway must have a duel trackway (double track) to allow the line to function best. A couplet or duel tracks on 9th and 11th can work since the attractions for riders will be limited. The track on Figueroa north of 9th or 11th will cause severe traffic congestion especially at the turn at 7th and Figueroa one of Los Angeles’s busiest interactions soon to become even more busy. A second line on 7th St from Alvarado to Main Street and north on Main St to Union Station to Cesar Chavez to Grand and join the Broadway Line. This will serve many more riders more conveniently and provide a superior service to all. Alan

[@OliverRWeber]

True but on the other hand, it will make people move out of their cars and walk more on the streets :)

[@packr72]

"Flexibility" is a bogus claim. The New York subway is not flexible, the Chicago L system is not flexible. Where are these buses going, down side streets to avoid traffic? Hell No. Most follow former routes of streetcar lines using their old loop to turn around at the end of the line. Even if a street needs to be repaved, you could still run the streetcars. The cities converted to buses, but those buses and even newer ones are inferior to a 1930s PCC. Your claims are lazy.

[@keesvandermeer8156]

tramway!!!

[@Loco-motix]

Actually, this whole point is just a propelled vehicle to transport people. The trolley idea is nice, but they can only run on the rail route constructed. A bus can be re-routed in an instant or a new route started without any cost in pulling up or building new tracks. A bus has more mobility. It can divert around a stalled vehicle, detour due to a blocked/closed street, whereas a trolley will be stuck without any way to turn out of the way. Why be limited? By far, a bus is much more versatile!

[@DrewCal1982]

They should do it for free the same way they took them away to sell cars. Yeah we had it right 50 years ago what happened.

[@MS-hv8bn]

I hope this idea becomes a reality everywhere. Cars suck - they dangerous and not efficient.

[@fredpohl5202]

My wife Is a fan of Shirley Temple

[@TheVimeo]

street car == tramway

[@AiruhnG]

I am all for bringing back the streetcar back to DT LA, but please bring back the retro looking cars. Not these ugly modern looking things.

[@Loco-motix]

A tram CANNOT go anywhere but on tracks, correct? Is that a bogus claim? If a trolley comes to a stalled vehicle or collapse blocking a track, it can only back up, correct? Unless, you have a clear passing track---you are stuck until the block is cleared. Is that a bogus claim? However, a bus can simply turn right or left to detour around the block. A trolley CANNOT do that without a track to do it on. Again, is this a bogus claim? If you challenge this fact--then what can one say to denial????

[@DoubleZuss]

It'll never hapen. Bummer

[@PortlandsTransport]

Elitist transportation. What nonsense. Developers should be paying for this stuff not tax payers

[@tjejojyj]

That's starting to happen. In Sydney they intend to us a "land value capture" levy on the properties along a new light rail line around Parramatta. The problem is to "capture" enough value to pay to the light rail it makes the property prices too expensive. (governmentnews.com.au/2015/12/sydney-light-rail-is-the-value-capture-price-far-too-high/) The argument "light rail causes development" should be "light rail focuses development". Socialise the costs, privatise the profits, that's the way to make money.

[@MilwaukeeF40C]

The best way to bring back streetcars is to deregulate and desubsidize transportation and land use, and maybe someone will find it profitable to build new rail systems. And if not, oh well. Convenient transportation at the expense of others is not an entitlement.

[@MilwaukeeF40C]

Jaw Tooth Passenger rail is not profitable NOW because all the competition is subsidized. That doesn't mean that it was never profitable, because it was. That's why private companies were able to invest in it, and make money until roads were built at taxpayer expense. How would you know anything about what I know about transportation policy history and economics?

[@lukebccb9552]

You're obviously not very bright. THAT AND YOU don't have a clue about economics. IF the private sector wanted to go back into public transportation they are NOT going into the high capital costs of building AND MAINTAINING the rail and the overhead line. THAT private group would just invest in buses. DUMBASS. Go to amazon and order "ECONOMICS 101"

[@MilwaukeeF40C]

lukebccb If the private sector goes back in to offering transportation services in an unregulated and unsubsidized free market, the proprietors can offer whatever form is most economical. It doesn't really matter if it is buses or rail. There was a time that everybody forgets about before improved roads were subsidized, when private rail transit systems were profitable.

[@MilwaukeeF40C]

Jaw Tooth Yes, you addressed me with your comment "Have you never learned anything? (sic)". I responded the way I did because you know nothing about what I do in regards to this subject.

[@MilwaukeeF40C]

Jaw Tooth Again, you don't know what it is I do.

[@OregonTransitFan]

Being on a streetcar isn't "fun". It's SLOW and bumpy. Invest in a BRT line.

[@Michael-cz8pi]

Oregon Transit Fan a streetcar is not bumpy at all, it's smooth and rails don 't have potholes

[@OregonTransitFan]

Mickey from Ghent No, the rails are very rough and they do bump all over. Not to mention the terrible vibrating and jerking when going around a curve. Buses are very smooth

[@michaelchristopher8266]

Its not bumpy at all. I'm from Toronto and ride it everyday. Not bumpy and it doesn't rattle like buses do. Keep in mind also that the Toronto streetcar system has been running since 1861 and if its not bumpy i'd assume a brand new streetcar wouldn't be bumpy either.

[@gilval808]

L.A. WILL NEVER HAVE A GREAT MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM . NO BODY WANTS TO WAIT TO WERE THEY NEED TO GO . TODAY'S KIDS AS THEY GET OLDER ALL THEY EVER DREAM OF IS OWNING A CAR AND AND NOT WAITING FOR A BUS OR TRAIN . NO ONE WANTS A STINKING OR CRAZY PERSON SITTING NEXT TO YOU. TO ME PERSONALLY CARS ARE THE KINGS OF THE ROAD NOT JUST IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BUT AROUND THE WORLD.

[@4ever242]

What a nonsense