Street car Plan notice from DDOT

DDOT Presents Updated DC Streetcar Plan

Plan Submitted For Council Review and Approval



(Washington, D.C.) The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) has presented an updated comprehensive DC Streetcar System Plan to the DC Council for review and approval. The plan details DDOT's plans for the design, construction and operation of the system and covers topics such as operations, safety, fare collection, and funding.



The document specifies how DDOT plans to complete the two streetcar lines already under construction, the H Street/Benning Rd Line and the Anacostia Initial Line Segment, and lays out the plans for additional extensions in Wards 7 and 8. It also includes the completed DC Transit Future System Plan – the District’s first comprehensive streetcar system plan. DDOT is planning a 37-mile, 8-line streetcar system with service across the city.



The highlights of the plan include:



· DDOT will initiate streetcar operations in spring 2012



· The DC Streetcar will create 200 permanent jobs at the onset of service and up to 700 upon completion of the entire system



· DDOT is currently pursuing $110M in federal funds to pay for two streetcar extensions East of the River



· Details on how DDOT will resolve issues with the power supply; DC Streetcar will utilize overhead wires on the first two lines and move to wireless operation as the system expands



· A framework to develop a financial plan and governance structure for the entire system



The plan was transmitted by the Mayor last week and formally introduced today by the Chairman of the DC Council on behalf of the Mayor in accordance with the requirements laid out in the Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Support Act. Approval of the DC Streetcar Plan by the DC Council will release $34.5 million in capital funding for the current H/Benning streetcar project.



The complete plan is now posted on DDOT’s website at ddot.dc.gov/DCStreetcar.





###





John Lisle | Public Information Officer | District Department of Transportation | Office of the Director | 2000 14th Street, NW, Fifth Floor, Washington, DC 20009 | 202-671-2004/direct | 202-486-5838/cell | 202-671-0650/ fax | John.Lisle@dc.gov, e-mail | www.ddot.dc.gov