Giannini: A Streetcar Named Desire

Giannini: A Streetcar Named Desire

I could not help myself. The above title seems fitting to me. The proposed plan to build an electric streetcar route through downtown Providence may be desired by some but it certainly raises a lot of questions for Providence residents.

The proposal would include a streetcar system starting at the Providence train station and then it would  proceed to Kennedy Plaza and Washington street. After going down Washington street it would turn southeast at Empire street, by Trinity Reparatory Co., then go by Empire and Chestnut streets, and follow through the Jewelry district and conclude at Rhode Island Hospital.

While this proposal is currently only being studied by the Providence City Council, it certainly raises some concerns. On the upside is the hope by promoters of this project that it will trigger economic development along the travel route by stimulating businesses and providing an alternate transportation system for customers and employees. Will employees use it as an alternate way to travel to work?  How long would it take to travel on such a system?

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We all know how impatient Rhode Islanders can be.  Everyone is always in a hurry to get to their destination. Whether it be work employees, business customers  or travel visitors using the system along the downtown route, one has to wonder if people will have the patience to use this system. Rhode Islanders are use to getting to their destination quickly. Let's face it, in 15 minutes you can be in neighboring Seekonk, Massachusetts from Providence by car. And you can hop on a RIPTA bus and travel throughout the city at minimal cost.

The people that are use to using their cars for transportation, will not abandon them to ride a streetcar. Nor will the people who are use to riding a bus. Rhode Islanders do not easily adapt to change or any kind of delays. What happens in a snowstorm or severe weather conditions?

One can easily argue that we have enough trouble keeping our roads safe and passable during   inclement weather conditions. Not to mention the cost of maintenance to maintain such a system in Providence. This is New  England, not San Francisco where the weather is warm and people are use to hopping on a streetcar to travel. I cannot picture people here using the system the way it is used in states with warmer climates.

The cost for this streetcar proposal is approximately $100 million with $34 million in federal aid and a $47 million cost for the City of Providence.  The balance of the project would be funded by the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority and the state of Rhode Island.  There is also a recommendation in the proposal for the city to raise funds for the project where tax revenue raised by economic development from the project would be reserved to paying off the bonds the city would issue to raise the needed $47 million.

This seems like a great deal of money for the city to invest in a project that we don't know will work.  The money needed could  be spent on repaving streets, sidewalk repairs,infrastructure repairs and much needed school renovations.  Taxpayers would rather see their streets pot hole free and clean of debris than to invest in other projects. Although we all look forward to new ideas and better ways to make it more convenient to travel through our city, we can't lose sight of the fact that we already have needs in Providence to address first and foremost before we engage in creating new endeavors.  

Hopefully, the Providence City Council will give it much review and have a public hearing where taxpayers can voice their opinions on such a proposal. It will certainly be interesting to hear the people's view and preferences.

 I would love to picture a bright sunny day where one could jump on a streetcar and ride through the city in awe looking at our historic buildings and feeling proud.  But another part of me envisions someone at a streetcar stop with an umbrella soaking wet waiting for a streetcar that broke down during inclement weather.

The city council  will have to do some heavy thinking on this one.  They will have to weigh all the factors in.  The possibility of a new baseball stadium, the traffic, the public safety issue as well as the financial costs all are factors in this decision.  

We all want Providence to be on the move and to improve our economy. And we all certainly want to be supportive of projects that promote our city but are weary of those that are risky business.  So far this proposal seems to raise a great deal of questions and leaves little for the taxpayers to desire.

Joanne Giannini served as a RI State Representative from Providence from 1994 to 2010. She has previously written commentaries for the Providence Journal and the Federal Hill Gazette. During her tenure in the General Assembly, she made appearances on CNN, Primetime News, and American Morning regarding legislation she filed in Rhode Island.