Transcript A Streetcar Named Deception

Are Streetcars Being Used to
Dismantle Whole Systems?
• While corporate interests rail against
transit workers, they claim to be investing
in transit systems.
• They promote bus rapid transit, streetcars,
light rail – great modes of transit when
planned and operated properly.
• “Cities turn to streetcars to spur economic
development” USA Today, 2013
• “Consultant: Streetcar could generate $3 billion
for economy” – ARLNow.com, 2014
• “Feds give Sacramento streetcar the green light” –
Merced Sun-Star, 2014
• “Why Streetcars Aren’t About Transit” –
NextCity.org, 2014
• “Bus Rapid Transit Spurs Development Better Than
Light Rail or Streetcars: Study” – Forbes, 2013
• “When It Comes to Streetcars and Economic
Development, There’s So Much We Don’t Know” –
The Atlantic, 2013
• ATU started as a union of mostly streetcar and
trolley operators working for private companies.
• Because transit is a service, not a product, private
companies found it difficult to make a profit.
• So they dismantled streetcars and tried operating
more efficient buses.
• They failed, and the public took over, invested in,
and saved systems.
• It’s not the mode; it’s the method.
• Streetcars are funded with transit money,
but sold to the public as an economy
booster.
• But economic development for whom?
• Answer: Corporate real estate interests.
• Divide transit workers from the public.
• Promise huge economic benefits to cities that
build boutique downtown streetcars.
• Promise even bigger benefits to cities that
contract out streetcar construction and operation
to private companies.
• Splinter transit systems and force the union to
organize multiple units.
• Reap the profits, and the public be damned.
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In March, Charlotte Mayor Patrick Cannon was
arrested on public corruption charges.
Charlotte has spent hundred of millions of dollars
building streetcars in the last few years.
An undercover agent, posing as a developer,
agreed to give Cannon cash in exchange for
favorable treatment to buy and develop land along
Charlotte’s streetcar lines.
If streetcar lines are clear cut economy boosters,
why:
• would a just-elected Mayor feel the need to pay
such close attention to developers to ensure they
develop near streetcars?
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Kansas City’s transit system is operated by the
KCATA, a public authority
Yet when Kansas City opted to build a streetcar,
they created the Kansas City Streetcar Authority to
oversee the building and operation of the system
The person who filed the paper work for KCSA was
City Manager Troy Schulte
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In negotiations this year, Schulte threatened to
slash 40% of ATU drivers’ work if the union didn’t
make big concessions.
Meanwhile, Kansas City was asking voters to
approve a special tax district to raise money for the
first leg of their streetcar line.
The election was done by mail, and restricted to a
tiny sliver of the voting public.
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This year, the KCSA awarded a contract to operate
their streetcar to a private company.
Now, they are planning a similar vote to approve
major extensions of the streetcar.
These extensions would be redundant with bus
routes, creating forced transfers for riders and
likely a lower wage to compete with for public
transit workers.
Transit officials
nationwide are
celebrating Kansas
City as a shining
example.
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Why didn’t the city want the public authority to operate
the new streetcar?
What role will the streetcar operator and the KCSA play
in future transit developments in the city?
How much will private streetcar operators and
mechanics be paid compared to Kansas City’s public
transit workers?
How many bus routes will be shortened or cut where
the streetcar runs?
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In 2005, DC began operating the Circulator, a
privately-operated “premium” bus line that costs
less, has more comfortable seats, and makes fewer
stops than standard buses.
The Circulator can be seen side-by-side with
public buses, yet drivers are paid less, have zero
pension, and bus maintenance is poor.
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Now, DC is planning a 22 mile streetcar
system, and has laid tracks for 2.4 miles that
might open this year.
The DC Streetcar will be operated by a new
private operator, McDonald Transit.
In January, the District DOT laid out its longterm vision, called the “Integrated Premium
Transit System”
The Integrated Premium System seeks a single
private operator to manage:
• The DC Circulator
• The DC Streetcar
• All non-regional buses within the District
that are currently operated by the public
transit authority
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Traditionally, public transit workers operated all DC
buses and Metro trains.
The Circulator was the first step toward chipping
away at public transit and workers’ pay.
• The Streetcar is
step two.
• Nonregional buses
are next.
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What Does This Mean?
In the span of about a decade, DC will have gone
from full public operation of transit to extensive
private operation.
The impact on workers, already seen in the
Circulator, will spread.
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Out of 26 cities, 23 of them have Democratic Party
mayors, 3 have Republicans.
Happening in states dominated by both parties.
Advocated by developers who donate to Ds and Rs.
Cities including:
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Kenosha, WI
Little Rock, AR
Salt Lake City, UT
Savannah, GA
Atlanta, GA
Tucson, AZ
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Dallas, TX
Detroit, MI
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Los Angeles, CA
Milwaukee, WI
Oklahoma City, OK
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Not every streetcar
is privately
operated.
In cases of public
operation, the big
question remains:
who benefits?
Answer: private
developers
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Start paying attention right now.
Attend meetings: transit authority, regional
planning, City Council – these are where
discussions start and decisions are made.
Mobilize your members – we have the power to add
good transit jobs if we push streetcar planning in
the right direction.
Engage riders and transit advocates – there are
more of them, and they influence decision makers.
MOST
IMPORTANTLY:
ASK QUESTIONS
THAT MATTER TO
WORKERS AND
RIDERS
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What are the key factors in choosing to invest
in streetcars over other modes of transit?
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What are the key factors in selecting this route?
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What are your goals for this streetcar route?
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Is the streetcar being promoted more as an
economic development strategy or a transit
solution?
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Are other types of transit being evaluated
compared to the streetcar, on what
grounds, and why aren’t they considered a
smart investment, too?
Who first proposed bringing a streetcar to
our city? (Voters, developers, DOT, etc.)