Dallas Puts Streetcars On Fast Track

By BJ Austin

Dallas, TX – Transportation planners at Dallas City Hall want to present a "business plan" for the first downtown streetcar line to city council members next month.

At a committee briefing, Councilman Ron Natinsky gave his blessing to the fast track approach for downtown and a long-term study of streetcar lines in other parts of the city.

Natinsky: By the end of the year we could officially say we're in the streetcar business. We may not have any cars, may not have any track, but we're in the streetcar business. I think once everyone starts riding these streetcars downtown, everybody's going to want one in their neighborhood.

The 77 million dollar downtown line would run along Elm and Commerce; between Houston and Pearl Streets. A city-appointed board would run the streetcar service. It would be financed by regional transportation funds, bonds, loans and tax increment financing districts.