Analysis: Charlotte’s argument for streetcars could be made here
As Nashville tinkers with the notion of a $6.5 billion light rail regional network, one of the city’s main economic development competitors, Charlotte, N.C., continues to press forward with a street car system but faces opposition in the face of budget shortfalls for schools and libraries.
The Charlotte Observer made the case for why the city should forward with expanding the street car system in spite of calls for money to schools and libraries because of the long-term payoff. Nashville’s supporters of light rail and the return of street cars may want to consider borrowing that argument.
Supporters of the new convention center already did to an extent when they countered opponents who thought the money should be spent on schools, etc. Of course, state law stated that hotel/motel taxes couldn’t be spent in that way anyhow but Music City Center proponents had to make the case investing during a recession and the long-term payoff.
At some point, if it hasn’t already, Charlotte’s urban transportation network could be a major selling point that attracts companies to that city, perhaps over Nashville. Mayor Karl Dean wants to focus on urban areas, downtown in particular. But in recruiting companies that indeed prefer urban locations, competitors with a street car system may have the edge over Nashville if having that type of transportation for employees is high on the list.
On the flip side, however, there’s a question of whether Nashville has the urban population density that Charlotte and other cities with street cars to justify the mode of transportation. A web site named Transport Politic raised the question back in February. One commenter posed the chicken and the egg question of how to get the density without rail.
Nashville developers tried to get that density. But as the city is with national trends in many areas, it turns out that Nashville caught the tail end, building a full steam only to be slammed by the financial crisis and the housing bust. (Nashville was slow to ride the Internet boom as well, catching the wave after it had crested).
Music City generally lagged beyond many others, Memphis to name one, in pursuing substantial urban residential development. Some may challenge that but Memphis, Charlotte and others have far more people living in their downtown than Nashville and they got going with larger efforts well before Nashville. Memphis, in particular, offered a boat load of tax incentives to make it happen and the street car there helped.
Instead of a bevy of tax incentives in tough economic times, maybe getting a jump start on a street car system in Nashville that then connects to regional light rail would be a worthy endeavor that perhaps adds value to the struggling urban residential and encourages more development when the financial markets get right.
