Environmental

Since streetcars use electricity, rather than a combustion engine to operate they offer several environmental benefits:

Noise

• The noise pollution on heavily traveled bus corridors is often unbearable to residents, businesses, and visitors. In Downtown L.A., this audible barrier stifles not only economic investment, but prevents a mixed and varied collection of uses in public areas and along sidewalks. The electric motors streetcars employ are virtually silent, and will encourage more active uses and outdoor activities by replacing local bus connector routes and the noise they generate.

Emissions

• Combustion engine emissions have proven detrimental health effects for those that must breathe them on a daily basis. Though electric power plants produce similar health problems, they are not typically located in densely populated areas like Downtown L.A. Furthermore, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has pledged to reduce their dependency on high-polluting coal power by 7% and increase the total supply of renewable energy to 20% by 2010, which would further reduce harmful emissions associated with electricity generation for the streetcar. In effect, energy generated to power the streetcar will be cleaner and more renewable, and in return, will enhance the health and well-being of L.A. residents.

Growth

• The Los Angeles area is expected to experience tremendous population growth in the next 50 years. A complete and easy to use transportation network, which the streetcar will be a part of, will ensure that a substantial percentage of this growth occurs in dense urban areas like downtown instead of at the fringes of the city. This form of growth is sustainable as it encourages development that maximizes existing infrastructure, decreases vehicle trips on freeways and arterials, reinforces walkable neighborhoods, and enables a wide spectrum of economic opportunities.