Are Streetcars Being Used to Dismantle Whole Systems?

A Streetcar Named Deception Are Streetcars Being Used to Dismantle Whole Systems?

Their Version of the Story

• While corporate interests rail against transit workers, they claim to be investing in transit systems.

• They promote bus rapid transit, streetcars, light rail – great modes of transit when planned and operated properly.

Transit Workers Bad, Transit Good!

• “Cities turn to streetcars to spur economic development” USA Today, 2013

• “Consultant: Streetcar could generate $3 billion for economy” – ARLNow.com, 2014

• “Feds give Sacramento streetcar the green light” – Merced Sun-Star, 2014

Streetcars Are Not a Magic Bullet

• “Why Streetcars Aren’t About Transit” – NextCity.org, 2014

• “Bus Rapid Transit Spurs Development Better Than Light Rail or Streetcars: Study” – Forbes, 2013

• “When It Comes to Streetcars and Economic Development, There’s So Much We Don’t Know” – The Atlantic, 2013

• ATU started as a union of mostly streetcar and trolley operators working for private companies.

• Because transit is a service, not a product, private companies found it difficult to make a profit.

• So they dismantled streetcars and tried operating more efficient buses.

• They failed, and the public took over, invested in, and saved systems.

Streetcars Are Not a Magic Bullet

The Bottom Line

• It’s not the mode; it’s the method.

• Streetcars are funded with transit money, but sold to the public as an economy booster.

• But economic development for whom?

• Answer: Corporate real estate interests.

The Approach• Divide transit workers from the public.

• Promise huge economic benefits to cities that build boutique downtown streetcars.

• Promise even bigger benefits to cities that contract out streetcar construction and operation to private companies.

• Splinter transit systems and force the union to organize multiple units.

• Reap the profits, and the public be damned.

A Closer Look: Charlotte, NC

• In March, Charlotte Mayor Patrick Cannon was arrested on public corruption charges.

• Charlotte has spent hundred of millions of dollars building streetcars in the last few years.

• An undercover agent, posing as a developer, agreed to give Cannon cash in exchange for favorable treatment to buy and develop land along Charlotte’s streetcar lines.

A Closer Look: Charlotte, NC

If streetcar lines are clear cut economy boosters, why:

• would a just-elected Mayor feel the need to pay such close attention to developers to ensure they develop near streetcars?

Unanswered Questions: Charlotte, NC

• Kansas City’s transit system is operated by the KCATA, a public authority

• Yet when Kansas City opted to build a streetcar, they created the Kansas City Streetcar Authority to oversee the building and operation of the system

• The person who filed the paper work for KCSA was City Manager Troy Schulte

A Closer Look: Kansas City, MO

• In negotiations this year, Schulte threatened to slash 40% of ATU drivers’ work if the union didn’t make big concessions.

• Meanwhile, Kansas City was asking voters to approve a special tax district to raise money for the first leg of their streetcar line.

• The election was done by mail, and restricted to a tiny sliver of the voting public.


• This year, the KCSA awarded a contract to operate their streetcar to a private company.

• Now, they are planning a similar vote to approve major extensions of the streetcar.

• These extensions would be redundant with bus routes, creating forced transfers for riders and likely a lower wage to compete with for public transit workers.


Transit officials nationwide are

celebrating Kansas City as a shining

example.

• Why didn’t the city want the public authority to operate the new streetcar?

• What role will the streetcar operator and the KCSA play in future transit developments in the city?

• How much will private streetcar operators and mechanics be paid compared to Kansas City’s public transit workers?

• How many bus routes will be shortened or cut where the streetcar runs?

Unanswered Questions: Kansas City, MO

A Closer Look: Washington, DC

• In 2005, DC began operating the Circulator, a privately-operated “premium” bus line that costs less, has more comfortable seats, and makes fewer stops than standard buses.

• The Circulator can be seen side-by-side with public buses, yet drivers are paid less, have zero pension, and bus maintenance is poor.


• Now, DC is planning a 22 mile streetcar system, and has laid tracks for 2.4 miles that might open this year.

• The DC Streetcar will be operated by a new private operator, McDonald Transit.

• In January, the District DOT laid out its long-term vision, called the “Integrated Premium Transit System”


The Integrated Premium System seeks a single private operator to manage:

• The DC Circulator• The DC Streetcar• All non-regional buses within the District

that are currently operated by the public transit authority


• Traditionally, public transit workers operated all DC buses and Metro trains.

• The Circulator was the first step toward chipping away at public transit and workers’ pay.


• The Streetcar is step two.

• Nonregional buses are next.

• What Does This Mean?

• In the span of about a decade, DC will have gone from full public operation of transit to extensive private operation.

• The impact on workers, already seen in the Circulator, will spread.


• Out of 26 cities, 23 of them have Democratic Party mayors, 3 have Republicans.

• Happening in states dominated by both parties.• Advocated by developers who donate to Ds and

Rs.• Cities including:• Kenosha, WI• Little Rock, AR• Salt Lake City, UT• Savannah, GA• Atlanta, GA• Tucson, AZ

Not All Partisan…

• Dallas, TX• Detroit, MI• Ft. Lauderdale, FL• Los Angeles, CA• Milwaukee, WI• Oklahoma City, OK

• Not every streetcar is privately operated.

• In cases of public operation, the big question remains: who benefits?

• Answer: private developers

Not All Private…

• Start paying attention right now.

• Attend meetings: transit authority, regional planning, City Council – these are where discussions start and decisions are made.

• Mobilize your members – we have the power to add good transit jobs if we push streetcar planning in the right direction.

• Engage riders and transit advocates – there are more of them, and they influence decision makers.

What Can We Do About It?

MOST IMPORTANTLY:

ASK QUESTIONS THAT MATTER TO WORKERS AND

RIDERS

What Can We Do About It?

• What are the key factors in choosing to invest in streetcars over other modes of transit?

• What are the key factors in selecting this route?

• What are your goals for this streetcar route?

• Is the streetcar being promoted more as an economic development strategy or a transit solution?

Questions to Ask Decisionmakers

• Are other types of transit being evaluated compared to the streetcar, on what grounds, and why aren’t they considered a smart investment, too?

• Who first proposed bringing a streetcar to our city? (Voters, developers, DOT, etc.)

Questions to Ask Decisionmakers

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Are Streetcars Being Used to Dismantle Whole Systems?