Innovation and Flexibleness
“I am coming, I am coming! Hark you hear my motors humming?
For the trolley’s come to conquer and you cannot keep it back;
And Zip! The sparks are flashing as the car goes onward dashing;
Yes the trolley’s come and conquered so look out and clear the track!”
Thus did a late 19th century author describe the advent of the electric streetcar, an event that literally changed the way Americans went to work and play and moved about the cities. Today we are faced with another major change in individual mobility, $4-a-gallon gasoline is causing many Americans to rethink the way they get around and to look more to public transit to fill the void.
As an industry that is historically underfunded and equipment-hungry, many of us are struggling to meet the demand. How does a small transit operator with a fleet of vintage electric streetcar equipment rise to meet this challenge? In the case of McKinney Avenue Transit Authority (MATA) in Dallas, Texas, we decided to examine just what it was we did and who we were. The answers enabled us to reaffirm our identity as a vintage operator, while plotting a course to meet the demands and expectations of our customers and take advantage of 21st century technologies.
Throughout the past year as we have seen gasoline prices spiral upward we have also noticed steady ridership increases during our regular commute times. Ridership for 2008 is up 20 percent over the same period last year. In particular, we have seen a large increase in the number of passengers transferring to our streetcars from light rail stations of the regional transit authority (DART). These numbers, taken in conjunction with on-car surveys, told us we were experiencing a basic change in our ridership demographics. We took a hard look at what our commuter passengers expected their streetcar system to do for them.
Early in the year it was decided to air condition our fleet of vintage streetcars. A grant from the Sue Pope Foundation enabled MATA to begin addressing this issue, and in May the first air-conditioned 1920 Birney safety car in the world rolled out of the shops to the delight of our riding public. Four other cars will follow during the course of the summer, and the further addition of AC traction motors, solid-state controllers and resilient wheels over the next two years will enable us to increase safe operating speeds, decrease headways and provide a higher level of comfort and service to the riding public while maintaining the ambiance and look of the antique cars.
Greenhouse gases, NOC emissions, global warming and, on a more visceral level, the cost of gas at the pump has caused Americans to re-ask the question of the World War II generation, “Is this trip really necessary?” It should cause each of us, as transit executives, to ask some important questions about what kind of organization we are and how our agencies can re-equip ourselves to do the job ahead of us.
Roll up your sleeves folks, it’s a big job and there’s work to do!
John Landrum
Chief Operating Officer
McKinney Avenue Transit Authority
July 25th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Attention Mssrs. McCain & Obama:
Many reading Mr. Landrum’s encouraging and up-beat report on electric streetcars are going to come away with a warm feeling, and get back to business as usual. There is more to this letter, and more threat in the energy price signals we are experiencing…
We are simply not yet thinking about an American Energy Crisis at a visceral level, much less tuned in intellectually. Locked gas pumps & gasoline/diesel rationing are lurking in the wings. Not much alternative, really; nothing approaching what we had in the Second World War years.
Boone Pickens is telling us some things we need to know, but we are not getting a key element: “…The greatest transfer of wealth in history…” -did you catch that? Pickens is telling us in a polite way that we need to curtail energy imports to protect against unsustainable foreigh exchange deficit -costs for imported oil.
To protect the dollar and assure foreign banks will continue accepting dollars, we must soon curtail gas & diesel import volume. In fact, we may also need to take steps to put the dollar back on a higher percentage of precious-metal backing: calling in gold/silver coins & bullion is not out of the question.
To stay on topic, the Federal Government may look at an “Energy Independence Bond” strategy; coupling capital with strategic alternative energy/transport infrastructure & equipment. Initial steps may include freezing steel scrap exports and lighting up the rail rolling mill at Steelton PA. How many ways can we spell E-M-E-R-G-E-N-C-Y…
There are about 3000 County planning offices in the USA. Each one should have maps of current & past rail (freight & passenger, Interurban, streetcar lines, etc) footprint at hand. Most won’t, may I suggest seeing website (spv.co.uk) for “US Rail Map Atlas, in 16 volumes. These are sold seperately by region. These maps are helpful to planners looking to determine most critical rail corridors to rehab, warehousing interface, etc.
Another element in Mr. Landrum’s article, the inherent need for getting the maintenance shops able to fix things that are worn out & broken. Breakdown in the worldwide supply chain comes with need to stifle imports. Critical items must be made onshore in this beginning “Long Emergency”, as James H. Kunstler titles his prescient book. Apprentice programs for High Schools, Junior Colleges are part of this picture. Also, with over 1 million in US prisons, some parts and whole carbody work can be part of work programs. Body building for transport, not bullying…
The political staff of many electeds & wannabes will be reading & hearing about these elements of the Peaking Oil Solution Set. The information provided on this website allows interested parties to research on their own, and as the crisis deepens, they shall be prepared, the calm ones in the room!
July 29th, 2008 at 12:56 am
What is the status on Magnetic levitation train systems for the United States. This should be a replacement system for the high fuel consumption planes. This system should be implemented by the federal government to the main alternative form of long distance travel in the us and possible Canada and Mexico.
July 30th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Mr. Landrum,
I enjoyed reading your article. It is good to know that the McKinney Avenue Transit Authority is meeting change head-on and rising to the challenge. Air conditioned Birney 4-wheel Safety Cars - simply amazing! We have always said that your system is a model for other cities and a leader in the business. Keep up the good work,
Hugh Fuller
Chief Engineer - Rail Transit
CH2M HILL
Motorman (ret) McKinney Avenue Transit Authority