What do America’s Top Ten Cities Have in Common?
Outside Magazine published this list of America’s Top Ten Cites. One thing they all have in common—Streetcars. Every city on the list is either operating or in the planning stages for a streetcar system. Do great cities build streetcars, or do streetcars build great cities? Or both?
Albuquerque, New Mexico: Advanced Planning for a Streetcar
Atlanta, Georgia: Operates Heavy Rail, Advanced Planning for a Streetcar
Austin, Texas: Operates Commuter Rail, Planning Streetcar
Boston, Massachusetts: Operates Subway and Streetcar
Charlotte, North Carolina: Operates Light Rail, Constructing a Streetcar
Cincinnati, Ohio: Planning a Streetcar
Colorado Springs, Colorado: Preliminary Planning for a Streetcar
Minneapolis, Minnesota: Operates Light Rail, Planning a Streetcar
Portland, Oregon: Operates Light Rail and Streetcar
Seattle, Washington: Operates Light Rail and Streetcar
July 30, 2009 at 7:18 pm
The Enquirer was quick to publish “The Most Dangerous Neighborhood in the Country” article, I wonder if this one will see the light of day.
July 30, 2009 at 8:24 pm
How relevant is your streetcar point, when more than half of those cities don’t actually have streetcars? I suppose since this is a streetcar blog you had to draw some connection.
One thing that 100% of those cities do have are police and fire departments. I find it very significant that we’re the only city on that list who is deliberately making ourselves less safe through layoffs of frontline cops and firefighters. That’s not a sound strategy for shedding the title of “most dangerous neighborhood in America.”
The other 9 have financial headaches too. But they’re balancing their budgets by pondering their streetcars a little longer if necessary. They’re certainly not stupid enough to sacrifice public safety for public transit. Any guesses as to which one won’t make next year’s list?
July 31, 2009 at 8:05 am
Analyze the photo!
The streetcar really screws up the flow of traffic.
And by what twisted criteria has it been determined that Cincinnati is one of the ten best cities?
July 31, 2009 at 8:20 am
It was encouraging and refreshing to read Doug Bolton’s editorial on the streetcar and light rail in the Business Courier for this Friday (7/31.) His comments were focused, rational, forward-thinking and complimentary of this particular cincystreetcar blog.
My hope is that positive, growth-minded, well-spoken advocates of the streetcar and light rail for Cincinnati (like Mr. Bolton) speak up loudly and strongly between now and November. The days for timidity are over if we are going to stop negative forces.
Collectively, that positive Cincinnati spirit could take this city out of its economic slump and into a future with increased investments, additional jobs, renewed interest in the city by corporate America, a radar-jump for young professionals who are considering to locate in this city, and, importantly, a sense of pride – and unity – for those of us who have lived here for a long time and know what a gem this region is.
I’m staying hopeful.
Thanks for the continued strategic action and optimistic energy from this group and on this blog.
Joanne Lincoln Maly
August 5, 2009 at 9:22 am
ABQ already has a rail system: the railrunner connecting to Santa Fe
August 5, 2009 at 10:52 am
I cannot believe this is true!
August 5, 2009 at 10:37 pm
[…] “What do America’s Top Ten Cities Have in Common?” from CincyStreetcar Blog […]