Little Rock trolley experience belies Lancaster projections

In response to inquiries from NewsLanc, we received report from Virginia Fry, River Rail Streetcar, Little Rock, Arkansas.

Note that almost 75% of their cost are subsidized by federal and local tax payer dollars, despite the average charge of $1.00 per rider!

Despite the huge subsidy and five street cars clogging busy streets, they only transport an average of 32 persons per hour during operations, perhaps 8 passengers per street car ride. That isn't even enough to begin to pay the wage of the operator!

The following, without deletions, is what Ms. Fry wrote:


"We have a fleet of 5 vintage Birney streetcars that run on a 3.5 mile track connecting the two cities of Little Rock and North Little Rock. We have no dedicated track except for over the Main Street Bridge (.4 miles).

" We travel in mixed traffic along a single directional track except for the Phase II portion of the system which consists of one mile of double track down to the Clinton Presidential Center. Our average speed is around 10 miles per hour.

"We have no dedicated funding and are 80 percent funded by federal funds.

"There are 3 entities that pick up the other 20 percent divided between the cities of Little Rock, North Little Rock and Pulaski County. Our operating budget for 2008 is around 778,000. We are only expected to cover 25 percent of costs through ridership which we have exceeded.

"Our system began in November of 2004 and we have carried over 500,000 passengers in that time. [390 per day.)"

Based upon the Little Rock's experience, the idea of spending over $14 million to bring back street cars to Lancaster on the supposition that it will only require a subsidy of $300,000 is untenable.

What is it about the benighted establishment in Lancaster that it never undertakes conscientious feasibility studies but rather rams half baked ideas down the throats of the taxpayers?

"This is not some harebrained idea," said Jack Howell of the Lancaster Alliance. Seems so to us!


River Rail Electric Streetcar Facts
The streetcars hold 44 people sitting down or 80 people sitting and standing.

Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 8:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Thursday, Friday, Saturday 8:30 a.m. - Midnight
Sunday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Fares:
Adults 1.00 cents per boarding
Children Under 4 Free
Children 5 - 11 .50 cents per boarding
Seniors (65+) .50 cents per boarding
Disabled .50 cents per boarding
Day Pass $2