Buses are excellent local and regional public transportation options, but they will do little to spur redevelopment and economic investment in Downtown LA. This is due to the inherent flexibility of bus service, as routes change regularly to accommodate varying needs; in addition, buses contribute to nerve-racking pedestrian experiences due to heavy street-level emissions and noise pollution that discourages active use of sidewalks. Streetcars do the exact opposite. They provide developers and business owners certainty that the routes will not change, and are considered preferable to buses by residents, visitors, and employees as they offer more amenities, highly reliable routes and timetables, and enhanced urban experiences.
Buses and streetcars do, however, work together to connect access points within regional transportation networks. For example, sidewalks can be designed to specifically accommodate both vehicle configurations; in return, a transit stop effectively doubles its value within a regional transportation network.
Images of Streetcar and Bus Relationships
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- Note the raised sidewalk configuration at this streetcar stop in Portland, OR. It has the potential to not only accommodate low-floor streetcars, but buses as well. (Source: LASI)
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- Comparison of Streetcars, Buses, and Light Rail
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- This historic image of a streetcar alongside a bus illustrates the scale of the two vehicles — they’re roughly the same. Despite the decades of changes since this picture was taken, streetcars and buses still remain relative equals in terms of height, width, and bulk. (Source: Oregon Live)
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- This image illustrates the scale of a non-articulated bus with a bi-articulated streetcar and single articulated lightrail vehicle. Articulated streetcars are able to navigate dense and congested urban areas, and can make typical right or left turns without additional infrastructure upgrades. (Source: URS/Portland “Why Streetcars?”)
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