M-Line Streetcar: Free Rides, DART, Ridership Way Up

[CTroyMathis]

Many take free ride on new city trolley
12/29/2002

By TONY HARTZEL / The Dallas Morning News


The oldest operating rail line in Dallas has found a new following.

A recent expansion and a permanent switch to free rides drew about 11,000 riders last month to the "M Line," better known as the McKinney Avenue Transit Authority. Just a few months ago, trolley cars attracted one-fifth the current number of passengers.

Free rides are a major reason for the newfound popularity, but a direct link to DART's Cityplace light-rail station also helped the streetcar system's resurgence. The extension officially opened in May.

"People are using light rail to connect to the streetcars," said Ron Kovatis, executive director of the trolley agency. "If our service can expand, it will be even more successful."

Like those who use light rail, trolley riders have incorporated transit into their daily lives, a recent survey shows. A one-day survey of 96 riders in September shows that a majority of users take the trolley to work or school. About 16 percent use it to get to shopping, entertainment or business meetings.

"It's what makes this a neighborhood instead of just a place to live," said John Landrum, the agency's chief operating officer.

Trolleys ran in Dallas in the early part of the 20th century but were scrapped as the automobile became more popular. In 1989, streetcars named Petunia, Rosie, Matilda and Green Dragon returned transit service along restored tracks in Dallas' Uptown area. DART's light-rail system opened seven years later.

For years, the trolley company served a more limited clientele. This year, the Downtown Improvement District and Dallas Area Rapid Transit started lending the agency their support. That help, along with the longtime support of the Uptown Improvement District, has led to new trolley system expansion plans.

Contracts could be signed next summer for an eight-tenths mile, $4.6 million extension into the heart of downtown's growing Arts District. The trolleys would run in a loop and stop a block from DART's rail system at the St. Paul station.

Work should begin in the fall on a turntable at the Cityplace station. Once complete, it will allow trolley cars to turn around on a rotating platform – a device needed to expand the agency's fleet.

All of the McKinney Avenue Transit Authority's streetcars have operating controls at both ends, allowing them to run back and forth on a straight rail line. The agency also has some cars in storage that have controls at only one end, a design that requires them to be turned around when they reach the end of the line.

Expansion plans call for a large streetcar network in the heart of downtown. One line would connect to the West End Historic District, and another line would run along Main Street or a parallel road.

Add a second light-rail route through the Central Business District in the next decade, and downtown could become a hotbed of transit activity.

Light rail and streetcars are "two totally different systems. Streetcars and a second light-rail alignment can be complimentary. They serve different purposes and different populations," Mr. Kovatis said.

In the interim, the trolley agency, its sponsors and DART have created a free trolley bus route that has been slow to attract riders. The route connects the West End, Arts District and Main Street shops, but it has only one bus that runs on a 15- to 20-minute frequency.

[bloodandpopcorn]

I'm very excited that the Trolley is doing well. As excited as I am about DART's expansion, I'm almost more pleased and encouraged to hear of trolley expansions, etc... though I'm not quite sure why. I will be great to have the trolley running all through downtown, and maybe even further, one day!

So assuming they do decide to go ahead with the first southern expansion... when will construction begin, and when will that 'loop' be expected to be finished?

[Quiz03]

A trolley extention from the West End to Downtown and to Deep Ellum would be very exciting. With parking garages downtown on the line we could see a party trolley. On Friday and Saturday night people pay a few dollars to park, use the trolley and get free admission to a few clubs or bars. Instead of bar hopping or a pub crawl it could be a "trolley hop." It would make Dallas nightlife unique and at the very least it would be a good way for MATA and those areas to unite market themselves, and get a few cars off the road.

[Kelley USA]

That's an excellent idea Quiz03. You should email the idea to MATA... I do know that they have several trolly cars still in the shed- one of which is being designed as a "party trolley" if you will. But good news for the trolley!~~

[psukhu]

Has anyone ever noticed that the northbound MATA line has a split at Blackburn?

Currently the trolley goes left and loops back towards downtown, but it looks like they built a fork in the road so they can expand it up McKinney towards Knox/Henderson.

[freewaytincan]

Yeah, I hope they stay free, and that way it can operate off of grants and donations, as long as it is feasible. That would be incredible, for that kind of cooperation. I rode it back in July, when it was first free, and I was pleasantly surprised by that. I can]t wait until the trollies run in downtown once again!

[bloodandpopcorn]

They have another couple of things like that too, I think, and as far as I know it's just to keep their options open. That way, if they are able to expand in that direction, they wouldn't have to stop service at the turn because they've already installed the fork. I really hope that it does go that way again, and possibly curve back to hillcrest up to SMU just like the old trolley used to do!

I also hope that they find a way to make the trolley a little bit faster. It shouldn't be too fast, because it should be a somewhat relaxing means of transportation, but with cars wizzing by at twice the speed, i can see how many people would laugh at the trolley. Still, I love it, and can't wait until I am able to ride it more often. And more places!

I rode it today, actually, and it's cool to see how some people in Uptown have made it part of their daily routine. The conductor was carrying on coversations with several passengers, asking about how certain business things were going as if they were all old friends. As of now, they may be friends of at least 6 months. Which is a very interesting thing to have on a transit system.

Also, when they install the turntable, they will be running an additional two cars at all times, I think, because those two are forward moving only, so they have to be able to turn around. And I think this summer they are going to unveil the "dinner" car, where you can make reservations and dine on this very fancy, evidently to-be-beautiful trolley. Which would be an extremely fun experience, I think.

[Quiz03]

I sent off my idea to MATA, and I actually got a prompt response. The idea was accepted, but it comes down to the businesses in the area wanting the service and pushing city hall for it. The streetcar would be a great way to connect the areas and neighborhoods around downtown. The linkages that DiMambro wrote about the necessity for. Maybe a letter writing or e-mail campaign to the restaurants and bars on the propsed line would be useful.

Service to the Arts District by this time next year, and if DID and DART had more confidence (and supported it more monetarily I gathered) they would break ground for the west end tomorrow. Money is the key issue on getting extensions, but they have some drawn on a map. They need to keep increasing ridership and to be looked at as more than a novelty. I'm worried that service to the arts district, while in the CBD will not provide many additional riders, and could hurt instead because it won't increase ridership and that will make MATA look bad.

[bloodandpopcorn]

Well, I guess if nothing else we can just wait until that extention to start pushing our friends and relatives to ride it more often. I'm already bring people one it when I can, and the expansion to the Arts District will motivate me to do it even more.

Personally, I think it will help, at least somewhat. I'm sure there will be some riders who choose to take the trolley to or from someting at the Meyerson, and the addition of the Nasher sculpture garden to the area may help as well. If we do our part in spreading word and "forcing" people to ride the trolley with us, then it should do fairly well. Hehe.

Well, I really hope that the expansion helps. I'm considering joining one of those "supporting" memberships... I think that if we all did, it would help them somewhat, too. And we would get print issues of the trolleystop, which would be interesting I think.

I noticed, too, today that there are more advertisements in/on the trolley, which I think is a good sign. Shows that its getting more and more monetary support. Since there isn't too much support from DID and DART, did they say when they thought the expansion to the West End might occur?

[gc]

That is all great news Quiz03. It does all come down to money unfortunately. I also think that it may take a bit more time for the trolley to catch on to more people because so many people find it worthless. However, I think that as soon as people figure out that the trolley can help alleviate some of the parking problems in DT, the Arts District, and Know/Henderson......then I truly feel the ridership, support, and money will pour in. Especially since that part of uptown is becoming more dense every day.

and......yes they need to make a tad bit faster and a tad bit slower............not that i am complaining or anything

:D

[gc]

Sorry for the double post here. I was just reading through my monthly apartment newsletter (Manor House Apartments) and it listed something interesting....

"The McKinney Avenue Transit Authority in conjunction with DART and the City of Dallasis proposing a 5-year program to bring a modern sreetcar circulator service into the core of Downtown. The governance model is unique and the financial plan draws from a number of entities, both private and public."

You may have heard about this, but I had not. Anyway...enjoy!

[INTX dave]

I love the MATA (or M-Line as it is now called) and am happy for its success. It provides a great service for short trips within Uptown and provides a valuable glimpse of our past transportation systems.

However, despite its historic and nostalgic purpose, it will probably not be an effective comprehensive transportation system for the areas from Knox/Henderson through Uptown to the West End and beyond.

The trolleys move slowly (or at least no faster than current traffic, including buses). They are great for the novelty ride or for short distances, but an additional system would be necessary to serve the more 'rapid' transit needs of commuters in the area.

The M-Line should continue to be embraced and expanded for its purpose and value, but additional transit options should also be explored and developed for commuting purposes (e.g. greater use of the existing DART rail line).

[psukhu]

What about separate street car lines that use modern street cars?

Toronto has modern street cars that are like a city bus inside (quiet, smooth, a/c, heat, etc), but have the modern look of one of our DART rail cars on the outside. I have also ridden on something similar in San Francisco. Both ride on street rail just like our M-Line.

San Francisco has their cable cars that are slow, but great for sight seeing. The M-Line could still serve a similar function.

[bloodandpopcorn]

I agree that the downtown Street car line should be somewhat more modern. Maybe they could find a way to design them to look almost like the old ones, but have more comfortable and environment-changable on the inside. Whatever they do should be able to go faster, and should run on lines that are basically straight (allowing them to go faster) and be able to have lights change for them as they approach. I'm sure MATA realizes most of this and is planning upon just this idea, or at least something like it, once they finally get it all done. I'm very excited about the prospect of it all...

Also, I think a couple of the front drive only cars are slightly more modern and may acutally be faster, smoother trolleys than the two that are currently in use. Which would defintely be a plus for the turntable / Arts District loop, allowing these more "convenient" cars to go along the line...

[pariah]

i agree that the expanded m-line or whatever comes of it, should be a more modern updated line. the trolleys are great, and have a niche but for a true circulator system we need something more modern. hi INTX Dave, welcome.

[freewaytincan]

No, they don't really need to do that stuff inside. They use restored cars, and that's part of the point. I mean, if you can get tourists on board, that's fantastic. And that will do it, and in the long run, truly pay off for Dallas. Also, I can't wait to see big expansions there...

[bloodandpopcorn]

Try riding the trolleys on a hot day in the summer. It's actually faster to walk in many cases, because you can j-walk when it's stopped at a light. And on some days it feels as if it's hotter inside the trolley than outside.

If they found a way to speed up all trolleys and air condition them, then keeping the old ones would be fine. As it is, tourists will ride the line segment that keeps the old cars, and residents will choose stations/segments that serve with newer, faster, quieter, and cooler (in the summer) cars. It's all about variety, I think...

[freewaytincan]

Ooh, there you go! You could have seasonal things! The interiors would be interchangable, so that the windows could be changed, and a climate system could be installed in a discreet way! Now you're talkin'!