Bring back the Olympic Streetcar!
Remember the Olympic Streetcar? That little train that reminded me so much from the time when I lived in Europe, and that was so absolutely delightful to ride during the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver? I miss it, and I wonder if you miss it too.
As I went for a walk with my friend Erica Hargreave the other day in South Vancouver, we came across one of the old Southlands stations. I noted on the Wikipedia entry for Arbutus-Ridge (this neighbourhood’s name) that the Vancouver-Steveston Interurban route passed through here. I have written about the Vancouver-Steveston Interurban before, but I had not realized about the existence of this station (Erica and I went there for a walk because I wanted to see the restaurant Senova on 57th and Cypress). Wouldn’t it be nice if both of these trams came back, thus expanding our transportation choices?
One of the catalysts for growth in the neighbourhood was the existence of the Vancouver-Steveston Interurban route of the British Columbia Electric Railway, known as the Lulu Island Railway, which ran between 1905 and 1952. St. Mary’s Kerrisdale, an Anglican church built in 1913, is one of the heritage structures in the uplands area of the neighbourhood.
My friend Stephen Rees (a transportation economist, planner and analyst of all things transportation in Metro Vancouver) has written a (lengthy but worth reading) op-ed piece on streetcars. Frankly, as someone who loves going to Granville Island about as much as going downtown, I would appreciate having a quick and easy way of getting from Waterfront Station to Granville Island without having to walk to the False Creek Ferries.
Also, I would not mind having the Arbutus line reconnected. In 2006, a group of my Public Policy students analyzed the options between having the (now existing on Cambie) Canada Line on Arbutus vs Cambie. In this case, what I’d like to see on Arbutus is sort of a streetcar or lightrail train. Just for touristic attraction (and why not, transportation too!).
Would you want to see the Olympic Streetcar back in Vancouver? With the 1 year anniversary of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, I kind of feel nostalgic for it. Even though I am not a fan of petitions for civic engagement (heck, I teach and do research in Public Policy, I certainly know of other lobbying methods!) but I would actually maybe even launch a petition to bring at least the Olympic Streetcar back.
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YES! I loved that quiet skinny train – it took no time at all to get to Granville Island once you got on the skytrain.
Hear, hear! Was thinking just that, as I listened to a report about how we need to celebrate the Olympic Anniversary by utilizing alternate means of transport again. Personally, would also love to see the Steveston Interurban Tram become a reality too.
Erica Hargreave recently posted..Wrestling Salsa