And we thought Philly had Nimbyism

[Art Clemons]

Apparently in DC there is a kerfluffle over "streetcars" having overhead
wires and a pantograph. It's claimed it would destroy the view of the
grand boulevards in DC.

Guess they've missed Philly with its trolleys, and Boston with its
streetcars. I can't understand the fight this time.

<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
dyn/content/article/2010/04/05/AR2010040502927.html>
http://tinyurl.com/yh7gvye

[Clark F Morris]

On Sat, 10 Apr 2010 01:53:30 -0400, Art Clemons

Post by Art Clemons
Apparently in DC there is a kerfluffle over "streetcars" having overhead
wires and a pantograph. It's claimed it would destroy the view of the
grand boulevards in DC.
Guess they've missed Philly with its trolleys, and Boston with its
streetcars. I can't understand the fight this time.

There has been a no overhead wire zone in Washington DC (all utility
wires must be underground) that predates most if not all of the
electric streetcar era. Washington DC (and Manhattan) streetcars were
powered by underground "rails" and "plows" through slots in the
street. The first new line is outside the historic "no wire" zone. I
believe that the no wire zone is a federal law so that it would
literally take an act of Congress to change it.

Post by Art Clemons
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
dyn/content/article/2010/04/05/AR2010040502927.html>
http://tinyurl.com/yh7gvye

[Art Clemons]

Post by Clark F Morris
There has been a no overhead wire zone in Washington DC (all utility
wires must be underground) that predates most if not all of the
electric streetcar era. Washington DC (and Manhattan) streetcars were
powered by underground "rails" and "plows" through slots in the
street. The first new line is outside the historic "no wire"

zone. I

Post by Clark F Morris
believe that the no wire zone is a federal law so that it would
literally take an act of Congress to change it.

As the article mentions, the underground setup did not work well, and
it's doubtful the battery/charging system or a wireless system would
survive for long either. I'm also not sure that it was an act of
Congress that banned overhead wires. Of course, considering how DC
has been treated in the past, it would not surprise me, but it's way
too trivial even for folks who hate DC as some folks in Congress
apparently did and do.

I've lived in two cities that have had trolleys/streetcars and neither
suffers from view restriction because of the overhead lines. Of
course if I had my druthers, I'ld suggest trackless trolleys instead
but of course, I don't live there and they aren't really a tourist
draw presently either.

[D.F. Manno]

Post by Art Clemons
Of course, considering how DC
has been treated in the past, it would not surprise me, but it's way
too trivial even for folks who hate DC as some folks in Congress
apparently did and do.

_Nothing_ about DC local government is too trivial for the Congress to
meddle with.