Downtown Columbus Streetcar Working Group

Click here to download the Streetcar Financial Plan.

Can you imagine streetcars running down High Street? It could happen if the recommendation of a 42-member citizen’s group gets the go ahead from City Hall.

Mayor Coleman asked the group to take a look at possible routes, construction costs, economic impact and financing back in 2006.  The group liked the idea so much, they recommended that streetcars run downtown but also all the way up to the Ohio State University campus. Now the Mayor’s office is determining if the financing can be put in place to build a system in time for the City’s Bicentennial Celebration in 2012.

Streetcars are similar to light rail in that they run on a track, but they mix in with local traffic, travel more slowly and stop every block or two.  Ideally, they serve as circulators along a two to four mile route, not as a commuter system connecting suburbs to downtown.

An economic impact study prepared by Danter and Associates, found that Columbus streetcars would create $764 million in economic impact after five years of operation. That’s one of the reasons why the Downtown Residents Association has endorsed the idea and has launched a petition drive to show rider interest.

To read a recent article from AIA Columbus regarding the benefits of streetcars in Columbus click here.

Send us your feedback about streetcars at streetcars@downtowncolumbus

Download the Columbus Streetcar Map (PDF)

Columbus Streetcar - Economic Impact Study

• 6,400 -7,200 rides per day after five years
• 3,000 jobs downtown - $2.7 million in income tax collections
• 1,500 additional housing units
• 90,000 additional convention visitors spending $52.8 million over five years
• 300 new hotel rooms
• $674-$764 million in economic impact after five years