Most American cities paved over their streetcar tracks decades ago, deeming the services slow, rickety and inconvenient. Commuters have long preferred cars and buses. But streetcars—sometimes known as trolleys or trams—are making a comeback. Services are rolling out in at least 16 American cities, with dozens more in the works [...] The relationship between streetcars and development is not clear, say researchers funded by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). — the Economist
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Trams are good if they have their own lane and control the street lights.
Fixed rails do protect the pavement from wear and tear, here in Chicago you can get caught in the ruts caused by buses compressing the asphalt in the summer. Fixed rails flush with the pavement do limit the damage done to roadways from these heavy vehicles.
Also a system of overhead power can make electric propulsion possible, eliminating noise and air pollution in the dense urban core.
Trams on fixed rails can also be lower to the ground which is important for wheel chair users.
Fixed rail transit has a different stigma than buses,and people sometimes think that passengers on a bus are not as desirable sort of folks to interact with than people on a vehicle rolling on steel even if the buss has a better time and lower fare.
As for the disappearance of the systems decades ago the private companies providing a public service, much like a utility conveys electricity over our streets, simply went out of business because of a lack of subsidies, street car operators had to pay for and maintain the tracks, repair streets and still try to turn a profit for their shareholders, cars don't pay for the streets or highways even if they are riding on a toll road the total cost is never equitably charged to motorist.
more trams please if it helps desnsify our urban communities and reduce the occasional trips taken by cars.
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