What do you think of the idea of having streetcars in Myrtle Beach? Frankly I am not sure what to think about it. Apparently there is some talk again about bringing streetcars to Myrtle Beach, SC.
A streetcar system - which would be the only one in South Carolina - is a less expensive option than the monorail ideas explored in the past, but critics question a multimillion-dollar investment in streetcars in a city where the struggling bus system has to cut routes to meet budget.
There are no figures yet for how much a Myrtle Beach streetcar system would cost.
The streetcar system in Tampa, Fla., cost $24 million per mile, the first part of Portland's system cost $11.5 million per mile, and the one in Little Rock, Ark., was nearly $8.5 million per mile, said Brian Piascik, principle transportation planner with URS Corp.
Myrtle Beach's system could be three to four miles long.
What do you think about this, should we or shouldn't we and why or why not implement this into the city of Myrtle Beach?
A short history of streetcars 1832-1834 | The first tram lines, pulled by horses, were built in 1832 in New York City and in 1834 in New Orleans.
1873 | Cable cars debuted in 1873 in San Francisco. The cable moved continuously; cars started and stopped by gripping and ungripping the cable.
1880-1888 | The first electric trams opened in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in 1880, and in Richmond, Va., in 1888.
1920s | Streetcars had their golden age in the 1920s. They were gradually replaced as cars and buses became more popular.
2000-2001 | Kenosha, Wis., revived streetcars in 2000, and a year later Portland, Ore., opened a large streetcar system that connected to its light rail system.
Streetcar | Also called a tram or trolley. It runs on rails that are embedded about six inches in the ground. There are two main types: a modern car that resembles a monorail car and a traditional, vintage trolley car. Some cars run on batteries and go shorter distances. Cities with streetcars include San Francisco, Portland, Ore, and New Orleans.
Light rail | Some consider this to be synonymous with streetcar, but light rail generally is bigger and heavier, with deeper tracks, and runs further.
Monorail | An electric rail system that runs on one rail or beam - either overhead or underneath the carriage. Monorails are used in Las Vegas and Seattle, and at amusement parks.