Local News

Fort Worth Explores Streetcar Viability

FORT WORTH (CBS 11 News) ― Fort Worth's population, like all of North Texas', is growing rapidly.  According to Mayor Mike Moncrief, "We can't build roads fast enough."  At the same time, road building is becoming more expensive than government budgets can handle.  So Fort Worth officials are exploring new ways to avoid a traffic nightmare.

A mix of mass transit options is becoming possible as population density rises and the cost of transportation (fuel and time) increases.  One idea being explored is a modern streetcar in downtown Cowtown.

Wednesday, the Fort Worth Modern Streetcar Study Committee met for the first time. The City Council has given them six months to prove the idea is feasible.  Freshman Councilman Joel Burns is "thrilled" with the streetcar idea and says Fort Worth needs "forward-thinking transportation solutions."

Thursday, Mayor Moncrief, Council Members, Streetcar Committee Members, city staff and members of the Fort Worth Transportation Authority ("The T") rode the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) train from downtown Fort Worth to Dallas.  Their purpose was to see the real estate development around Mockingbird Station.  Jay Chapa, Fort Worth's Economic and Community Development Director, says to create a successful streetcar system, Fort Worth must attract new development along and near the tracks that will encourage use by residents, commuters and tourists.  Chapa also says these different riders make the streetcar plan more financially viable.

Increasing Density

The North Central Texas Council of Governments expects the population of Fort Worth to increase by about 10,000 residents every year for the next 22 years, reaching 850,000 by the year 2030.  Downtown Fort Worth and neighborhoods near downtown will attract at least 10% of those new residents, as young professionals and retirees continue to be interested in the social and cultural lifestyle downtown Fort Worth offers. 

Adding to traffic congestion are the thousands of workers that commute from the suburbs every day.   Planners must also consider the large number of vehicles simply passing through the area on interstate highways.  Finally, they must think about the convention and tourist industry being cultivated for continued growth (In 2008, the Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau estimates the city will attract 9.5 million tourists).  Already, city staffers say increasing traffic congestion and higher gas prices are driving more people to try mass transit.  Richard Ruddell, President and Executive Director of "The T," said there were 9,500 trips per day on the TRE in March.  Wednesday alone, 12,000 trips were taken.

Thursday, Mayor Moncrief said "it's a time of change in our city, leading to new lifestyles, economies, methodology and technology.  Now, more than ever, we have, not just for the city, but for the region, the opportunity to develop streetcars and rail that will move people quickly, safely, and economically."

The Plan

Fort Worth's plan is still in its infancy.  In January, 2008, the city released a preliminary strategy for modern streetcars. 

The plan calls for a single lane of current roadway, rebuilt to allow cars and modern streetcars to exist simultaneously.  The streetcars would be powered by electricity from overhead lines.  They would be quiet, air-conditioned, with no exhaust fumes and would average speeds of 15-18mph.  Technology on the streetcars would change traffic signals as they approach an intersection.  Their only stops will be for passengers every 1/4 to 1/2 mile.  And, unlike the steps of a bus, the streetcar is about a foot off the ground, which speeds the on/off process.

The cost of the program would be comparatively low.  It's expected to be about ½ the cost of DART's downtown light rail.  The modern streetcar concept has been proven to be a resounding success in moderately-sized cities.  It is already in Portland, Oregon, where an eight-mile loop attracted more than three million riders last year.  In Tacoma, Washington, their 1.3 mile streetcar system attracted over 900,000 riders last year.  And, in Seattle, a one-mile streetcar opened in December 2007.  It has already had 325,000 riders. 

Fort Worth officials said they want to start small with streetcars within the central business district.  But eventually they want to expand it to create a 13.3-mile system connecting downtown to the Cultural District, Will Rogers, the Medical District, Texas Christian University, Texas Wesleyan University, the Stockyards and Meacham Airport.  Convention goers would be able to use the streetcar system to visit the Cultural District and the Stockyards.  TCU students could safely go to and from Sundance Square nightlife.

Return On Investment

In 2001, Fort Worth spent $1 million to research the idea of streetcars.  That idea couldn't work then, according to Fort Worth's Deputy Director of Planning and Development, Dana Burgdoff.  "Development density in the core didn't exist," said Burgdoff.  Few people lived downtown and vacant buildings were numerous.  Today, there's an explosion of revitalization in Fort Worth.  Currently, the city is working with four different developers, each of whom has a project worth more than $100 million.  One of those, So7, is being developed by Ken Hughes.  Hughes developed Mockingbird Station in Dallas and he is well-known in the Sunbelt for transit-oriented development in growing cities.

Mockingbird Station is a mixed-use project, adjacent to a DART rail station in Dallas.  It has 211 loft apartments, 198,000 square feet of retail space, 150,000 square feet of office space and 1,500 parking spaces at or below ground-level.  Planning and development experts say projects like Mockingbird station are suited for high-density areas.  They need mass transit systems to efficiently move people within the area, says Jay Chapa, Fort Worth's Economic and Community Development Director.  Chapa also says tying residential, employment and social destinations makes streetcar success a possibility for Fort Worth.    In Portland, $2.3 billion of development projects have been linked to their modern streetcars.

When?

Fort Worth officials believe the entire system could be built within three years from the start of construction.  Streetcar systems can be been built at the rate of one block per week.  That's because the rail/road retrofit is close to the surface.  This means no major road reconstruction and, often, underground utilities do not need to be re-routed.

Cost?

Fort Worth officials estimate the project's cost to be about $250 million.  Modern streetcar systems can be built for about $20 million per mile.  On the other hand, light rail systems using dedicated tracks (like DART) can cost two to three times that amount.  Most of that cost is due to land acquisition.

Funding?

The project's cost is out of reach for the current Fort Worth city budget.  Officials say "The T" does not have the funds either but could maintain it once constructed.  So, Fort Worth city staffers believe the city could use its financial clout to build the project.    While it is a little too early to attach dollar amounts to funding sources, City officials say it would be a complicated mix.  Some possibilities include:

--Typical mass-transit funding from the Federal government (up to 50% of the project's cost).

--Other Federal grant programs that address traffic congestion and air quality.

--Bonds paid for by increased property taxes in the area (Tax Increment Financing projects)

--Self-imposed taxes by residents near the project (a.k.a. Public Improvement Districts)

--Downtown parking surcharges

--Future royalties from the Barnett Shale

--½ cent increase in sales tax rate (this would need approval from the Texas legislature)

--Direct, private sector donations and investment

What's Next?

Officials are hoping to visit Portland and Tacoma in September to tour their systems.  Meanwhile, Fort Worth's Streetcar Committee will meet at least once per month.  They expect to develop more detailed and accurate cost projections, funding details and rider estimates.  By early 2009, we should know if Fort Worth will actively pursue a modern streetcar project.

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