At least 40 cities are exploring the use of streetcars to drive economic development, and the New York Times highlights Cincinnati's $132 million proposal.
Advocates are basing their studies on the success of Portland, Oregon, which, since installing its system in 2001, have claimed more than 10,000 residential units and more than $3.5 billion in property investment within two blocks of the line.
Not only can streetcars aid in resident mobility in an era of increasing gas prices, but they lure younger workers who crave a walkable environment and entice developers who are drawn by the permanence of the infrastructure.
"Cincinnati has to compete with other cities for investment," Cincinnati city manager Milton Dohoney Jr tells the New York Times. "We have to compete for talent and for a place of national prominence."
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