A century ago, streetcars defined American communities of all sizes, sparking their economic growth, shaping their development, and linking growing neighborhoods with shopping, jobs, and recreation. They were so universal that you could travel from Boston to Chicago by streetcar and urban rail lines with a total gap of less than 20 miles. But by the 1950s, competition from a growing auto industry, legal requirements for electric companies to diversify, and the desire to become more ‘modern’ slowly strangled streetcar systems from coast to coast.

Today, a half-century after we destroyed extensive streetcar networks in cities around the county, this simple yet effective transportation mode is poised to make a renaissance in American cities. In the last decade, streetcars have staged a remarkable comeback. In 2001, Portland reintroduced the first modern streetcar to great fanfare and ridership that continues to vastly exceed projections.  But this is not just another Portland phenomenon; a growing number of communities – from Kenosha, Knoxville, Seattle, San Francisco, to Charlotte and Ft. Worth – are eager to invest in streetcar and benefit from its ability to provide more transportation choices, cleaner air, fewer carbon emissions, and more development opportunities. This interest has spawned a truly national movement, as more than 80 communities are now seeking federal funds to get started on their first projects.

Despite the fact that streetcar is not a partisan solution – communities and true believers of all political persuasions have long understood the value streetcar provides to their communities – the Bush Administration refused to fund its development through the Small Starts program Congressman Blumenauer inserted into the last transportation bill in 2005.

Momentum to bring back the streetcar is building.  Secretary LaHood just announced a Full Funding Agreement for Portland Streetcar’s Eastside Loop. Streetcar is gaining credibility and support from key leaders on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; Committee Chair Jim Oberstar and Representative Peter DeFazio, who chairs the Surface Transportation Subcommittee, understand the power and potential of streetcars as well as anybody in America. They're not just strong advocates; they are the architects of this new beginning. They understand that the modern streetcar combines proven technology with the ability to recreate the effective public-private partnerships that fueled the growth, expansion, and blossoming of American cities.

Nearly a hundred years ago, municipalities, local utilities, and developers created partnerships that supported a streetcar system to serve communities and local economies -- just as these same partners understand the value that streetcars bring to 21st century communities. Today, these traditional partnerships offer cities, utilities, residential and commercial developers, construction and financial interests the opportunity to finance and create a modern streetcar system to revitalize the cities and neighborhoods they serve.

The Portland region is well-positioned to take the lead on the national streetcar renaissance; it has set the standard and developed the expertise needed to plan, finance, market, and construct a streetcar system.  Oregon Iron Works, a locally-based manufacturing business, is poised to manufacture the first American built streetcar in 58 years – an effort that will immediately add 1290 jobs to the Portland region’s economy.