Washington, DC has started a $221,000 advertising campaign to promote the H Street streetcar, which began operation earlier this year. This includes a radio jingle, “Streetcar, streetcar, cruising along/streetcar, streetcar, singing a song.”
The definition of cruising includes, “To travel at a constant speed,” which hardly applies to streetcars. Cruising is also innuendo for “looking for a sexual partner,” but somehow I doubt DC singles will be attracted to someone because they are riding a free (but expensive) 7-mph streetcar.
And the whole prices generic cialis http://appalachianmagazine.com/category/history/legend-and-tall-tales/ body will be uncomfortable and come out gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting. How does it work? levitra 60 mg After ingestion, the enzyme PDE-5 is inhibited by the active ingredient Sildenafil Citrate, allowing the smooth muscles that are found in the penis. Side Effects: Side effects viagra professional uk that you should report to the doctor immediately. * Before you place the Kamagra order make sure that you are getting a safer type of treatment in a barbershop. There are certain enzymes that stops the egg from meeting the sperm inside the levitra free samples uterus. Streetcar critic David Williams fears that the real purpose of the advertising campaign is to sell the idea of building more streetcars. Considering the delays, cost overruns, and other problems associated with the existing streetcar line, it’s hard to believe that anyone would seriously want to build another one.
DC transportation officials claim the line is a success as it carried about 2,400 riders per weekday over its first three months, well above the projection of 1,500. The problem with this is that the 1,500 projection assumed they would charge fares for the rides. When Atlanta began charging fares, ridership fell by 48 percent; a similar decline would put DC ridership 17 percent below projections.
In addition, running every 10 to 15 minutes in both directions for 18 hours a day, the streetcars make at least 168 trips per weekday. That works out to an average of just 14 riders at a time, many of whom would probably have been on one of the many buses that serve the same corridor if there were no streetcar.
Some people made a lot of money building the $200 million streetcar line. They no doubt are eager to make more building other lines. But streetcars serve no viable transportation purpose except to spend money.
That thing is going to hurt someone, it is too close to the parked cars.
Fare cost? Their website says: “DC Streetcar will be free for an introductory period. DDOT will announce the permanent fare policy at the end of the free service period. ” Either they don’t know or they are refusing to tell us.
Since the ride is very short, it is doubtful they can charge much more than $1.00 per fare. Assuming no loss of riders once they charge fares and assuming they keep this up 7 days a week, they would “rake in” $2,400 day. It will take over three months of fares to just cover the cost of the ads. If the numbers go down as expected, the time frame increases by a lot.
No $ to cover employees, electricity, maintenance or any other expenses – months of operation solely to pay for this ad campaign to make another company money.
Even in the age of boondoggles, this streetcar is stunning.
“But streetcars serve no viable transportation purpose except to spend money.”
Exactly, but they do serve tremendous political purposes. They give bored bureaucrats something to do to justify their parasitic existence. They also give city governments bragging rights: “Look at our city! It’s a world-class city because we a streetcar!”
If the goal of planners is to jam up roads and frustrate drivers, then I guess one could argue that streetcars do indeed serve a transportation purpose.
And from the left coast: Streetcar costs grow in Santa Ana
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/streetcar-723719-project-million.html
The strange thing is that the radio advertisement doesn’t even attempt to portray the streetcar as a mode of transportation. It’s an “attraction” and offers access to “a whole new world of fun.” It’s a Disneyland ride.
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DC transportation officials claim the line is a success as it carried about 2,400 riders per weekday over its first three months, well above the projection of 1,500. The problem with this is that the 1,500 projection assumed they would charge fares for the rides. When Atlanta began charging fares, ridership fell by 48 percent; a similar decline would put DC ridership 17 percent below projections.
” ~Anti-planner
The problem is that there is zero reason that 1,500 trips / business week day should be considered a success. Whether or not some transit agencies own ESTIMATES of business week day ridership fall short or exceed the goal that the agency chose for themselves is rather meaningless. We need to focus on what it costs to operate, they 80% – or in this case 100% – fare box gap and the opportunity costs.
For example, does DC have homesless people? Yes. Do all of the homeless have a roof over their head every night? No. In fact the majority do not. What kind of sick world do we live in that people value having a trolley for a thousand people — a thousand in a metro of 4+ million — to ride instead of just taking the bus? This money isn’t only better spent elsewhere, it’s immoral to spend it in this manner.