Why streetcar?

Streetcars help create vibrant urban places with a high quality of life — and less traffic congestion.

• They can move more people than buses
• They cost less to build than expensive subways or even light rail
• They stop more frequently, offering riders greater mobility
• Their electric motors and steel tracks offer a quiet, comfortable ride that encourages more folks to use transit
• Cities that have built modern streetcar systems have seen an upsurge in private investment in the neighborhoods served

Why a streetcar system for Arlington?

• Arlington needs to expand its transit system to handle expected growth:
• If sufficient transit is in place, by 2040 Arlington can expect 110-120 million annual transit trips beginning or ending in Arlington
• Arlington’s streetcar system will serve parts of Arlington that are projected to add 37,000 jobs, 21,000 residents, 11,600+ housing units between 2010 and 2040 That is an expected 58% increase in jobs and a 39% increase in residents
• Arlington’s existing Metrorail, VRE and regional/local bus services and facilities cannot meet the transit capacity challenges we face
• The streetcar system will fill a transit gap for those who live or work or visit Arlington
• Streetcars reduce the number of cars on the road, contributing to environmental sustainability