Streetcars were once a common feature in American cities. New York once had an expansive network that seamlessly linked its two largest boroughs. They were, however, largely abandoned after World War II as communities were designed around automobiles. However, in the wake of an energy crisis, the streetcar is experiencing a kind of renaissance. According to the Associated Press, Tucson is one of several cities planning to launch streetcar service to promote economic development. The city just finished a four-mile-long streetcar track that will run between the University of Arizona campus and downtown. “Roughly 150 businesses have opened their doors along the route in the last five years, and the once-dormant area is in the middle of a $230 million construction boom, according to the Downtown Tucson Partnership. The group estimates that 2,000 jobs have been created or relocated to the area,” according to Pew States. Michael Keith, CEO of the downtown group, says, “The fact that Tucson could reinvent itself in the middle of the worst recession to hit the state since 1928 is astonishing.”
Tag: eco-impact
Baltimore Youth Work Together for an Important Cause
Blue Water Baltimore is a non-profit organization that works with youth to provide leadership, education, and programs to help restore the quality of Baltimore’s rivers, streams and harbor. The initiative began as five separate Baltimore organizations working to improve their neighborhood water. Through a combined effort they realized they could have a larger impact and work to provide a model for collaborating on a shared vision, not only for the city of Baltimore, but on a national level. Perhaps the greater impact of the organization is that they inspire city residents to become advocates for positive action in their lives, neighborhoods, and the city as a whole. Read more about their mission.