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August 27, 2007

Adding a "Loyola Loop?"

At a time when RTA's ridership is about 15% of its pre-storm numbers, the notion of adding more streetcar service to the city sounds just crazy, but that's just what the Regional Planning Commission is suggesting. They want to look at the possibility of a "Loyola Loop" off of the Canal line:

Under the Regional Planning Commission proposal, streetcars would turn from Canal Street onto Elk Place and then Loyola Avenue, passing near City Hall and the storm-damaged Hyatt Hotel, which is scheduled to reopen next year. The cars then would turn onto the Union Passenger Terminal grounds before heading down Howard Avenue to Carondelet Street, where they would follow the St. Charles line's tracks back to Canal.

The idea isn't new, as streetcars used to run on Loyola prior to their post-WWII phaseout. Tying the Union Passenger Terminal more directly to the RTA system makes a lot of sense in terms of moving towards commuter rail that would feed in from the west, particularly the airport. Still, RTA is barely back on its feet, and the agancy is struggling to provide basic service. Not to mention that the RPC is advocating the expansion of a streetcar line that doesn't have its regular operating streetcar fleet. The 24 2000-series Von Dullen streetcars are currently being re-built after receiving major flood damage.

Still, this is a very forward-looking project that deserves serious consideration.

Posted by YatPundit at August 27, 2007 8:32 AM

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