Pike Streetcar Accidents Would Cost $15-$20 Million Per Year

Hello,

A.Y. did a survey of streetcar systems and accidents around the United States and Canada. Yes, there are thousands of accidents involving streetcars and streetcar tracks and motor vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, mopeds, scooters, and other 2-wheeled vehicles.

Based upon the types of accidents we found, it appears that accidents involving a Pike streetcar system would cost between $15 and $20 million per year for injuries and property damage.

It was disconcerting to find how expensive streetcar accidents are. Streetcars typically demolish subcompact autos. Streetcars seriously damage larger vehicles and often derail after impact. Bicyclists often suffer serious head trauma when their bicycles encounter streetcar tracks at speed.

Where was the discussion of the costs of streetcar accidents in the so-called 'alternatives analysis' of Pike transit options? Streetcars on the Pike would be by far the most costly transit option. Why is this option going forward?

Cindy

Chris Zimmerman's Legacy to the Pike: A Streetcar Named Disaster

Hello, Yupette:

I did extensive Web searches on "Streetcar Accidents", "Streetcar Bicycle Accidents", and "Streetcar Tracks Accidents" and it appears there are thousands of accidents and injuries every year in the United States and Canada alone when pedestrians, bicyclists, and motor vehicles of all types are involved in collisions with streetcars and streetcar tracks.

Best I can estimate there would be one fatality per year and hundreds of accidents and injuries if a streetcar system were constructed on the Pike. I don't see any discussion anywhere (except here) of the human costs arising from constructing a streetcar system on the Pike.

Why should we all suffer because of one person's inflated ego? Streetcars are the WORST transit option, by far, for Columbia Pike.

Pike Rider
Barcroft Apts.

Toronto Bicyclists Outraged By Streetcar Accidents

Hi Yupette,

I also recently visited Toronto. Thought you should know that there are many, many accidents caused by streetcars and streetcar tracks in Toronto and bicyclists there are fed up. A bicyclist was killed last month after slipping on unused streetcar tracks. Toronto bicyclists want unused streetcar tracks torn up or paved over and want bicycle lanes physically separated from streetcar tracks.

Streetcar tracks are particularly treacherous for all vehicles when it rains. If you ride a bicycle in the winter you don't want to ride anywhere near streetcar tracks.

We don't need the safety problems streetcars would cause in Arlington. I'm all for more city buses, double deck buses, articulated buses, whatever works best in Arlington. Let Portland have its streetcars. Not here.

Judy, 22204

Future of Pike Transportation - Autos Vs. Streetcars

Hey, Yupette,

I took your advice and took a vacation, to New York and Ontario. Spent a week in and around lovely Toronto. Yes they have a lots of streetcars. Lots of autos and bicycles. And lots of accidents involving streetcars and autos and bicycles. Lots of bicycle accidents involving streetcar tracks.

Toronto's Yuppie Elite loves streetcars. Love their autos and bicycles too. Do not like buses. Think buses are for minorities and the working class (people who are not part of the so-called "creative class").

Most Toronto residents are not in love with streetcars, want them to be replaced by modern buses. Want shared-street streetcars put underground or in transitways.

Pike's transportation '"future" is lots more 4-wheeled and 2-wheeled  vehicles, fewer buses, more and more streetcars. It's going to be streetcars vs. autos on the Pike.

Peter, Douglas Park

County Board's Deal With Dominion For Power Grid Upgrades - No Rooftop Solar, Pike Streetcar Approval, 'Contributions' to County Board's Pet Interests

Hello Yupette,

As you may remember the County Board recently approved a deal with Dominion whereby Dominion would spend $100 million connecting its high voltage transmission lines in Alexandria with the Ballston-Rolsslyn corridor. Much of the power delivered to the B-R corridor over these new power lines will be generated from coal, including 'mountaintop coal' from southwest Virginia.

What the County Board does not want to talk about is the deal it made with Dominion for the power grid upgrades. The County Board agreed to no renewable energy on any but a few public building rooftops, no promotion of residential renewable energy, and promotion of the streetcar option on the Pike and Potomac Yards (powered by electricity generated from burning coal). Dominion agreed to a laundry list of political contributions, a green energy program consisting of selling a miniscule amount of 'green' power generated out-of-state and heavily marked up, and grants, gifts, and consulting contracts with the County Board's pet people and special interests.

So if you wondered why rooftop solar is appearing everywhere but Virginia, there's your answer. BTW, 'Green Energy' is just another County Board charade, Dominion derives 57% of its electrical energy from burning combustible materials and 42% from nuclear reactors.

2100

Coalfields Expressway - More Coal to Power Pike Streetcar

Hi Yupette,

If it isn't bad enough that Dominion already generates 38% of its electric power from coal check out the proposed Coalfields Expressway in SW Virginia, to be funded by Virginia taxpayers to transport even more coal to Dominion's coal-fired generators. So we are looking forward to what? Fifty percent or more of the energy used to power the Pike streetcar obtained from burning coal? While the rest of the industrialized world is going to renewable energy? Appears likely if nothing is done to stop it.

Terri

Fairfax and Arlington Transportation Staffs Did Not Review Bus Alternatives

Hello Yupette,

According to several Arlington progressive activists Fairfax and Arlington County transportation planning staff members have admitted that they did not review bus alternatives to a streetcar system that have been placed in service since 2007. Those include the Las Vegas Deuce double deck bus, Las Vegas ACE articulated bus, the new London double deck bus, various new city buses, and other bus transit vehicles placed in service over the last several years..

Arlington and Fairfax County transportation planning staffs also did not perform an adequate assessment of a streetcar system's environmental costs. Dominion will be burning coal (much of it mountaintop coal) and using nuclear reactors for decades to generate electric power for Northern Virginia. About 99% of Dominion's electric power is generated by energy provided by nuclear reactors, and by burning fossil fuel and biomass, according to Dominion's own data.

Ted - 22204