[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by billybob123

Streetcars seem like a good idea - but why streetcars rather than buses? Buses have the advantage that they can move around obstructions and veer "off course" if ridership demands it. I am sure there's benefits to streetcars - but I don't know what they are?

Originally Posted by Byrns

Less pollution and noise?

Yes, plus a couple other big advantages are:

1. Permanence - The permanency of the route (as opposed to a bus route that can be easily changed) is a factor in attracting development along the route. It shows an investment in the area.

2. Attracts more riders than equivalent bus service and capacity does due to rail bias. People are more likely to choose to take a rail mode of transit.

Here's an old post of mine that repeats some of this and goes over it in more depth. It was in response to a similar question.

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Well to start, each one can fill a much different role in the transportation network. Local vs. regional, long distance service, circulation vs. collection and distribution, etc. Streetcar systems usually take a role closer to that of buses than to LRT systems like the C-Train, so they are more often compared to buses when looking at advantages/disadvantages.

A few key advantages are:

- Can run in-street in mixed traffic using existing infrastructure.

- Much less costly than LRT, but more than buses

- Less noisy than buses and less odorous emissions

- Streetcars offer a smoother ride than buses

- Streetcars often have more capacity than buses.

- Has been shown to attract nearby development much more effectively than buses due to the permanency. Developers see it as the municipality making a long-term "investment" in the area and the route

- Has been shown to attract more choice riders than buses with same capacity and speed on same routes. This is due to a concept called rail bias, whereby people are more willing to take rail public transit than bus public transit if they have the choice. It is seen as a more attractive travel option.

As is often the case, other people have said it better than myself. Here's some links:

In depth:

http://www.railwaypreservation.com/v...agetrolley.htm

http://www.infrastructurist.com/2009...r-renaissance/

Concise:

http://www.cptdb.ca/wiki/index.php?title=Streetcar

The streetcar (or tram) wikipedia page also gives a good synopsis:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tram