By Ronnie Garrett

Back in the days of horse-drawn carriages, another mode of transportation rose as king: the streetcar. Then the automobile took its sovereignty away, as roads and freeways became the preferred means of moving into and around urban centers. But the staple of early 20th century transportation is experiencing a comeback as communities across the United States go “back to the future.”

The primary driver: Cities themselves are making a comeback, as young professionals and baby boomers alike move closer to where the action is.

“The ‘Leave it to Beaver’ family ideal where you live in a ranch-type home with a picket fence on a couple of acres is changing,” says Jim Graebner, a streetcar consultant who chairs the American Public Transportation Association’s Streetcar and Heritage Trolley Subcommittee.

As people move back to downtown areas, streetcars serve as an excellent pick-up and distribution system, Graebner adds. That’s because streetcars move at slow speeds to easily shuttle people through congested downtown areas. They also make attractions and downtown businesses more accessible and, as a result, help prompt economic development.

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