Anacostia Streetcar (power lines, construction, cars)

[waltlantz]

Read about this on 'TOP

D.C. readies for streetcar return - wtop.com

Apparently it'll run between the metro stop and Boiling AFB.

Any anacostians or Ward 8 residents concerned?

[DCnative1990]

(wow.......look at the date on this thread..anyways.)

nope. im more concerned about the planned straight car that will run on benning road and h street from Minnesota Ave station to Downtown. i was on the subway today on the orange line on the El bridge and i saw the workers laying down the tracks. i wonder if DC drivers are ready for mixed traffic again after 46 years.

[Do a Barrel Roll]

In fact, there are two streetcar projects under construction:

The Anacostia Streetcar Project:
DDOT: Streetcar Project Index (http://ddot.dc.gov/ddot/cwp/view,a,1250,q,636429,ddotNav_GID,1746,ddotNav,|340 60|.asp - broken link)

and

The H Street/Benning Road/Minnesota Ave Streetcar Project
DDOT: Reconstruction of Benning Road, NE (http://ddot.dc.gov/ddot/cwp/view,a,1416,q,643814,ddotNav_GID,1762,ddotNav,|344 34|.asp - broken link)

[14thandYou]

H Street is a ways off from getting going. There are significant issues there, not the least of which is the fact that the way the cars are to be powered--via overhead lines--is forbidden because it exists within the original L'Enfant city, and there are strict regulations about sightline impediments such as power lines.

The tracks are being laid now as part of the H Street streetscape project, but don't expect the streetcars themselves to begin running there anytime toon.