Could Savannah use a streetcar (Atlanta, Thunderbolt: low income, renting, home)

[ellie]

And get the timing on the traffic lights right.

[WanderingImport]

Originally Posted by StAubin

Savannah Should Invest in a Modern Streetcar. Like what Portland did and what Atlanta is doing now.

Or perhaps go all the way and build a light rail system.

I have been saying/suggesting the rail idea in Savannah for a few years now. Run it right down Abercorn all the way to the south side of town. Also, find an ideal route for it from downtown to the airport and to Tybee... then you've got yourself an ideal situation.

Unfortunately, as long as we have the backwards leadership in power and majority conservative spending opinions throughout the metro, this won't happen in my lifetime. (Sure, downtown Savannah is liberal, but most of the metro population lies in the surrounding conservative suburbs...suburbs that can't even fathom new urbanism as a logical idea and instead cheers for unsustainable big box and subdivision growth)

Originally Posted by Newsboy

Before we get streetcars, we need to:
1. Finish Truman Parkway
2. Widen US 80 all the way to Tybee
3. Turn Abercorn into a grade-elevated limited access expressway all the way from Forest River (Savannah Mall) to I-95.
4. Completely rebuild and widen to six (or eight) lanes the entire length of I-16 and I-516 in Chatham County with a concrete wall median.
5. Turn the I-95 / I-16 intersection into a "stacked" flyover
6. Make the GA 21 east exit off I-95 east to Effingham County a "no-stop" flyover.
7. Finish Jimmy Deloach Parkway from Georgia Ports to a new interchange on I-16.
8. Build new I-95 interchanges at Quacco and Little Neck roads.
9. Fix Derenne Avenue!!!!!

I do agree though that these projects should be tackled. I say the rail idea should be added to this list now so that it could in fact have the possibility of happening in my lifetime, but as I said above, with all the factors in play, I don't see it happening.

[Newsboy]

WI - I've always thought it would be really cool to see a streetcar / LRT line down the Abercorn spine, with elevated "cross-over" platforms at key intersections like Victory Drive, DeRenne, Eisenhower, Mall Blvd, Montgomery Xroad, Largo-Tibet and AASU. However, common sense would dictate it's NEVER going to happen. The last stage of the Truman Parkway is finally taking shape and nearing completion -- 50 years after it was first proposed! Yes, change and progress do come to Savamnah ... but it is ... OH ... SO ... PAINFUL ... TO ... WATCH!

[Padgett2]

Drive down Abercorn south and see what would have to be destoyed in order to have room for regular traffic plus a streetcar track.

What would happen to the squares? the old houses that are close to the sidewalks?

and don't forget to allow space for bike paths and parking.

[Newsboy]

^^^ PADGETT that's precisely why I say it would never happen.

[WanderingImport]

Originally Posted by Padgett2

Drive down Abercorn south and see what would have to be destoyed in order to have room for regular traffic plus a streetcar track.

What would happen to the squares? the old houses that are close to the sidewalks?

and don't forget to allow space for bike paths and parking.

Yeah, there is definitely A LOT that would be taken out for this thing, so yes, logically, it won't ever happen. Especially as slow as things go around Savannah.

The answer to rail running through places like midtown, Thomas Square and points north (particularly the historic district) would be to put it underground (like the Ellis garage was done). This part of the city is the highest part of Chatham county and the water table wouldn't (I assume) be as much of an issue until you get to points south (say around DeRenne and Abercorn) which, at that point, could come above ground.
Sure, there are many buildings that would be demolished (thinking of DeRenne southward), but most of it is suburban type development anyway that could be razed (over time) in favor of more dense development (like the hotels across from Twelve Oaks).

This is just a thought, btw. Realistically, as said before, it wouldn't ever happen.. BUT, it CAN be done if planned appropriately.

[ellie]

I just don't see the point of it. Street cars are just buses on rails -- except they require more infrastructure and can't change lanes or make a detour. We could switch to those tour trolleys if aesthetics would make more auto drivers use them...but you know they won't, not in Savannah.

[Padgett2]

While we are building this dream, let's don't forget to provide air conditioned shelters at every stop so that riders wouldn't have to wait outside in the over 90 degree heat.

[Melissa82]

I think it would be a great idea but as previous posters have said, there are way more important traffic issues that need to be addressed.

[counterclockwise]

The street cars in Savannah were powered by electricity from overhead lines. That is why Savannah Electric (Now part of GA Power) ran the system in the early days. There was an array of unsightly overhead lines over the tracks that ran down the middle of Broughton and West Broad streets just to name a few.. It would be hard to imagine the mess now if tracks and overhead lines were installed to run trolleys.