Why Are Streetcars Slow and How Can They Be Faster?

Streetcars, a vital component of urban public transit, are often perceived as slower than buses or subways. This article explores the reasons behind their slower speed and discusses potential solutions to enhance their efficiency.

Reasons for the Slowness of Streetcars

Streetcars have several characteristics that contribute to their slower speeds:

Track Design

One primary reason is the track design. Streetcars operate on fixed tracks that are often integrated into city streets. This setup poses challenges as they need to navigate around traffic, pedestrians, and other obstacles. The integration of streetcars into urban environments means they must be flexible in their operational routes, which inherently limits their speed.

Traffic Interference

In mixed-traffic environments, streetcars share the road with cars, bicycles, and pedestrians. This shared space leads to delays, particularly during peak hours. These delays are exacerbated by the need to stop and yield to other road users, which can significantly reduce overall travel times.

Frequent Stops

Streetcars typically serve densely populated urban areas, which necessitates frequent stops. These stops, while necessary for efficient service, can slow down overall travel times. Each stop involves deceleration, stopping, and acceleration again, each of which adds to the time required to complete a journey.

Signal Priority

In many cities, streetcars do not enjoy the same level of traffic signal priority as buses or subways. This means that streetcars may need to wait at intersections, leading to longer wait times and additional delays.

Infrastructure Limitations

The infrastructure supporting streetcars may not be optimized for speed. Problems such as poorly maintained rail, curves in the tracks, and suboptimal design can limit how fast a streetcar can safely travel.

Design Purpose

Streetcars are often designed with a focus on short-distance urban travel rather than high-speed transit. This design purpose prioritizes accessibility and local service over speed, which can result in slower average travel times.

Strategies to Enhance the Speed of Streetcars

The comments section suggests potential improvements to enhance the speed of streetcars. One key strategy proposed is to replicate the attributes of train operation, such as low-floor design and multiple door access.

Low-Floor Design and Multiple Door Access

A commenter pointed out that streetcars could be faster if they were set up like trains with a low-floor design. This would allow passengers to enter and exit the vehicle through all doors, rather than just one or two. Efficient boarding and alighting procedures can significantly reduce dwell times, thereby increasing overall speed.

Infrastructure Improvements

Mr. Dorst and Mr. Albert highlighted another critical issue: traffic signals. In mixed-traffic environments, streetcars can suffer from unnecessarily long waits at intersections. For instance, when Mr. Dorst operated the F-trolley in San Francisco, he found that the traffic signals were not preempted, leading to unnecessary stops. Similar issues have been observed in other cities.

To address this, cities should implement transit-preempted signals that allow streetcars to continue moving through intersections without stopping. This would not only reduce delays but also improve overall travel times. Additionally, adhering to German-style rules that require drivers to yield to trolleys in mixed-traffic areas can further enhance safety and efficiency.

Wherever possible, streetcars should have exclusive rights-of-way. This dedicated infrastructure would reduce conflicts with other vehicles and pedestrians, further boosting the speed of streetcar operations.

Unique Solutions

Mr. Dorst’s observation of the PCC (Per plausible car) cars provided insight into superior streetcar performance. These vehicles had faster doors, better acceleration and braking characteristics, and were generally superior to most modern trolleys for street service, despite not being designed for higher speeds.

Additionally, the design of the Buenos Aires subway train was highly regarded for its efficient door operation. Observing the closing of the doors on this train demonstrated a best practice in door design that can be applied to improve the speed of streetcars.

In conclusion, while streetcars provide essential services to urban areas, their operational characteristics and the environments in which they operate lead to slower speeds compared to other transit options. By implementing strategies such as low-floor design, transit-preempted signals, and exclusive rights-of-way, streetcars can be made more efficient and faster.