Foot Traffic

A streetcar as convenient, accessible public transit is only half the story.

One of the main differentiators between streetcars and buses is the economic development that follows streetcar installations. We reference the Kansas City example often: $2 billion of economic development has sprouted along their corridor since 2016 when they launched their streetcar.

Part of that economic development happens because of increased foot traffic. People have to walk to and from stops – and they might just stop in at a store or café along the way.

In 2000, Portland counted five pedestrians per hour on the blocks surrounding the famous Powell’s book store, with one bus stop. In 2005, there were two bus stops and two streetcar stops…and a whopping 1,716 pedestrians walking in the area per hour.

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