The return of streetcars to western American cities : reintroducing streetcars in Denver's historic streetcar neighborhoods
Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 2009.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | eng |
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2009
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/50106 |
| _version_ | 1826212118014197760 |
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| author | Snider, Sarah E. (Sarah Elizabeth) |
| author2 | Sam Bass Warner. |
| author_facet | Sam Bass Warner. Snider, Sarah E. (Sarah Elizabeth) |
| author_sort | Snider, Sarah E. (Sarah Elizabeth) |
| collection | MIT |
| description | Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 2009. |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-23T15:16:20Z |
| format | Thesis |
| id | mit-1721.1/50106 |
| institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-23T15:16:20Z |
| publishDate | 2009 |
| publisher | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | mit-1721.1/501062019-04-11T08:19:54Z The return of streetcars to western American cities : reintroducing streetcars in Denver's historic streetcar neighborhoods Reintroducing streetcars in Denver's historic streetcar neighborhoods Snider, Sarah E. (Sarah Elizabeth) Sam Bass Warner. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Urban Design Program. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Urban Design Program. Urban Studies and Planning. Urban Design Program. Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 2009. Author also earned an Urban Design Certificate from the Program in Urban Design; a joint graduate program with the Dept. of Architecture and the Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning. Includes bibliographical references. Modern streetcars are making a comeback in the United States after their disappearance in the mid twentieth century. They resemble their distant relative, also known as the trolley, in many ways but express a contemporary, provide modern conveniences, and act as a magnet for redevelopment within the city. Modern streetcars build on the theory behind the European tram systems and provide desirable transportation options to support a range of densities in urban living. Currently in the United States, Portland, OR and Seattle,WA operate one modern streetcar line and have plans to expand their singular line into a network. Using these two routes, the plans for system expansion, and the individual cities that support them as case studies, this thesis analyzes the potential for streetcars to return to Denver, CO.The analysis for the Mile High City was conducted using my knowledge of and research on Denver and the surrounding metropolitan region, its historical skeleton that developed around the streetcar, and the City's current trends in public transportation and planning processes. Based on a multifaceted analysis that includes studying the relationship of potential streetcar route length, multi-modal connections, major destinations, high bus ridership routes, projected residential density, projected employment density, and redevelopment potential based on use and zoning, Denver is in fact an appropriate city for the return of streetcars. (cont.) Not only would one streetcar be successful, but an integrated system could serve the City and its surrounding urban neighborhoods well. Taking the analysis one step further, the research attempts to compare a potential modern streetcar system for Denver with the historic streetcar routes that operated until 1949. Many observations arise, including the obvious difference in the limited number of modern lines versus the vast number of historic routes. Modern streetcars typically occur on primarily mixed-use corridors rather than pass through strictly residential neighborhoods as they once did. It is also evident that modern streetcars in Denver would direct redevelopment within the city whereas historic streetcars directed development to the edge of the city.This ability to direct development and redevelopment within the city's boundaries in addition to providing transportation fit in line with Denver's goals for growth management, multi-modal transportation options, and neighborhood revitalization. by Sarah E. Snider. M.C.P. 2009-12-10T19:13:21Z 2009-12-10T19:13:21Z 2009 2009 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/50106 463451685 eng M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission. http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 190 p. application/pdf n-us-co Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| spellingShingle | Urban Studies and Planning. Urban Design Program. Snider, Sarah E. (Sarah Elizabeth) The return of streetcars to western American cities : reintroducing streetcars in Denver's historic streetcar neighborhoods |
| title | The return of streetcars to western American cities : reintroducing streetcars in Denver's historic streetcar neighborhoods |
| title_full | The return of streetcars to western American cities : reintroducing streetcars in Denver's historic streetcar neighborhoods |
| title_fullStr | The return of streetcars to western American cities : reintroducing streetcars in Denver's historic streetcar neighborhoods |
| title_full_unstemmed | The return of streetcars to western American cities : reintroducing streetcars in Denver's historic streetcar neighborhoods |
| title_short | The return of streetcars to western American cities : reintroducing streetcars in Denver's historic streetcar neighborhoods |
| title_sort | return of streetcars to western american cities reintroducing streetcars in denver s historic streetcar neighborhoods |
| topic | Urban Studies and Planning. Urban Design Program. |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/50106 |
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