Jul 28, 2008
Modern Streetcar Study Committee
By: Kevin Buchanan
Andy at North Texas Historic Transportation was able to get a list of the people selected thus far for the city’s Modern Streetcar Study Committee:
Mayor Appointees
Andy Taft (Chair)
Louise Appleman
Johnny Campbell
Ed Casebier
Marvinell Johnson
Fran McCarthy
Phillip Poole
Council Member Appointees
Dr. Carlos Vasquez (District 2)
Pending (District 3)
Bob Riley (District 4)
Pending (District 5)
Bob Parmelee (District 6)
Bill Cranz (District 7)
Janet Saltsgiver (District 
Jeff Davis (District 9)
Ex-Officio Member
Michael Morris, NCTCOG Transportation Director
Judge Glen Whitley, Tarrant County Judge
I’ve heard rumors that Whitley is one of the biggest roadblocks the committee faces – he’s apparently of the mindset that a streetcar would bring no benefits, and would be too dangerous to cars, and other misguided/wrong things of that nature that seem to stem from a viewpoint that holds cars as the single most important thing on the street. I’m sure we’ll be hearing more about the committee as it moves forward – other than regular meetings, the next big event will be a trip by the committee to the Pacific Northwest to study the modern streetcars of Portland, Seattle, and Tacoma.
Kevin, the planning department has set up a page for the study committee on the City’s website.
http://www.fortworthgov.org/planninganddevelopment/default.aspx?id=57270
Kudos to our Mayor on this one. Another example of Moncrief exercising his ability to have an open mind. I am assuming, of course, that this study group wouldn’t be happening w/out the Mayor’s approval.
Well, it took Mayor Moncrief a little while to get here, especially considering he killed the last attempt. But with $4.00 gallon gas and increasing pressure from developers, it looks like he is willing to look at it again.
It seems that our city is coming together, the old small big little town is strictly off the wall. I would imagine that most people who have lived in Fort Worth for over 50 years have heard that our city was a large integral part of mass transportation called the “Inner-Urban” that was done away with the advent that cars and cheap fuel could get you where you needed to be. I used to think that there was nothing about Dallas that I liked, but my hat is off to them when they build and are succeeding with mass transportation. Fort Worth used to be a city without to much ambition, but thanks to the Leonard Brothers, Charles Tandy and the Bass family our side of the world shines much brighter than Dallas or any other city in this country.
The streetcar idea is a great idea, I just wish that5 the old M&O subway had gone somewhere besides the Tandy Center. Surface rail should be our future and not just in the central core of downtown. It needs to be everywhere, granted it will not take the place of the car, but complement it. men and women who are active in the development of Fort Worth need to keep an open mind, and as for Judge Glen Whitley he need to open his mind to change and remember all forms of transportation are important for our streets and not just cars.