Streetcars were first introduced in 1827 in New York City. Styled after railroad passenger cars of the day, they were horse-drawn and ran at will on major streets and thoroughfares.
During the next 100 years or so, streetcars—also known as trolleys, trams and cable cars—became a standard feature in cities of all sizes, both worldwide and in the United States. The only major change was that they soon ran on steel rails down the center of certain avenues and were upgraded from horse power to electric motors for propulsion around the turn of the century.
Streetcars operated alongside diesel-powered buses in many major cities well into the 1950s, when they began to be phased out in favor of the route flexibility of buses and due to street surface modernizations that systematically eliminated tracks and rails.
Surprisingly, during the past few years, streetcars again are being reintroduced in many U.S. cities, and on Sept. 18, they made their debut in the city of Henderson. However, these aren't your granddad's streetcars.
In recent weeks, you may have seen the new big, eye-catching gold and blue vehicles traveling Water Street, Lake Mead Parkway and Boulder Highway. These sleek new Rapid Transit Vehicle models, actually called StreetCars, resemble their predecessors in name only.
The new StreetCar RTVs seen in Henderson are award-winning state-of-the-art high-tech vehicles designed and built in Northern Ireland by The Wight Group.
The newly commissioned 30-ton vehicles, with the look and feel of a light rail transit system, are comfortable, air-conditioned and powered by extremely fuel-efficient hybrid engines that are both electric- and diesel-powered. They are 62-feet long and "articulated" in the middle, meaning they have accordion-type bellows that allow the vehicle to bend when turning corners. They accommodate 44 seated passengers and another 65 standing, if need be. There also are onboard provisions for carrying a number of bicycles.
The StreetCar RTVs also feature level-platform boarding with lower entries and specially designed matching-height platforms at most stops that allow easier access, especially for handicapped passengers. The busses also have two dedicated spaces for wheelchairs.
"We have one of the most up-to-date fleets in the nation, and the new StreetCar RTV vehicles are a terrific addition," stated Tracy Bower, director of media and government affairs for the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada.
"The feedback from riders has been overwhelmingly positive. They really like the spaciousness of the vehicles and the interior bike racks. We currently carry as many as 60,000 bikes per month on our vehicles. That's more than the city of Portland carries on its system."
The RTC has partnered with local businesses to offer commuters three new Park & Ride lots, where they can leave their vehicles for extended periods and ride the new express transit services: Eldorado Casino, 140 Water Street, has 29 spaces and is serviced by the Henderson & Downtown Express; Eastside Cannery Casino, 5255 S. Boulder Highway, offers 14 spaces and is serviced by the Boulder Highway Express; and the College of Southern Nevada's Henderson Campus, 700 College Drive, offers four spaces and is serviced by the Henderson & Downtown Express.
If you would like to check out the new sleek blue-and-gold StreetCar RTVs for yourself, there's good news. The RTC announced that for 11 days, from Friday, Oct. 21 through Monday, Oct. 31, Nevada residents with valid local ID will be able to ride the new Boulder Highway Express and the Henderson & Downtown Express busses for free.
For more information on routes and schedules, call the RTC customer service line at 228-7433 or visit rtcsnv.com.
