A Streetcar Named Deception

1. A Streetcar Named Deception Are Streetcars Being Used to Dismantle Whole Systems?

2. Their Version of the Story • 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.

3. Transit Workers Bad, Transit Good! • “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

4. Streetcars Are Not a Magic Bullet • “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

5. Streetcars Are Not a Magic Bullet • 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.

6. The Bottom Line • 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.

7. The Approach • 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.

8. A Closer Look: Charlotte, NC

9. A Closer Look: Charlotte, NC • 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.

10. Unanswered Questions: Charlotte, NC 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?

11. A Closer Look: Kansas City, MO • 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

12. A Closer Look: Kansas City, MO • 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.

13. A Closer Look: Kansas City, MO • 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.

14. Transit officials nationwide are celebrating Kansas City as a shining example.

15. Unanswered Questions: Kansas City, MO • 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?

16. A Closer Look: Washington, DC

17. A Closer Look: Washington, DC • 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.

18. A Closer Look: Washington, DC • 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 long-term vision, called the “Integrated Premium Transit System”

19. A Closer Look: Washington, DC 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

20. A Closer Look: Washington, DC • 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. • Nonregionalbuses • are next.

21. A Closer Look: Washington, DC • 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.

22. Not All Partisan… • 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: • Kenosha, WI • Little Rock, AR • Salt Lake City, UT • Savannah, GA • Atlanta, GA • Tucson, AZ • Dallas, TX • Detroit, MI • Ft. Lauderdale, FL • Los Angeles, CA • Milwaukee, WI • Oklahoma City, OK

23. Not All Private… • Not every streetcar is privately operated. • In cases of public operation, the big question remains: who benefits? • Answer: private developers

24. What Can We Do About It? • 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.

25. What Can We Do About It? MOST IMPORTANTLY: ASK QUESTIONS THAT MATTER TO WORKERS ANDRIDERS

26. Questions to Ask Decisionmakers • What are the key factors in choosing to invest in streetcars over other modes of transit? • What are the key factors in selecting this route? • What are your goals for this streetcar route? • Is the streetcar being promoted more as an economic development strategy or a transit solution?

27. Questions to Ask Decisionmakers • 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.)