Desiring a Streetcar?
This one's a bit of a head-scratcher. Myrtle Beach city planners have just commissioned $30,000 for a study exploring the feasibility of a new streetcar system for the Grand Strand, which would transform the state of public transportation in the area.
At this early juncture, planners envision that the streetcars would run along a three- to four-mile stretch parallel to and just west of Ocean Boulevard. With major changes coming to the old Pavilion and Myrtle Square Mall properties, they feel the time has come to examine new means of alleviating traffic congestion along the route, and also creating spur connectors from the main line that can take people to and from such other major tourist attractions as Broadway at the Beach.
Supporters laud this as a trendy yet cost-effective alternative to mass transit than the monorail proposals previously considered for the area. Critics have already weighed in with questions about the feasibility of a multimillion-dollar investment on streetcars in a city whose struggling bus system has been forced to cut routes in order to meet its budget. Comments to the Sun News' Web story have been flying in fast and furiously, with the vast majority to this point siding against it.
Is it an idea worth at least exploring? Sure. And I don't have a problem with the price tag necessary to adequately look into it. But even if the most conservative initial estimates put the price tag at $25 million, with the potential to reach more than $100 million, I just wonder about the timing of such an investment when considering some of the area's more pressing tourism-related needs.
Consider that the Grand Strand currently draws an estimated 14 million visitors a year, but needs to draw an additional 6 million annually in order to fill the area's 90,000 lodging units. More money is needed to cast a wider promotional net to bring new visitors in. The recent fall advertising push by the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce was designed with precisely that in mind, but at a cost of $300,000 can only do so much. Wouldn't even a fraction of the city's streetcar money go a longer way if it supported the chamber's promotional efforts?
I'll reserve final judgment until we see more details on what city planners have in mind. With all the thought that's already been put into this, though, I can't help but be reminded of the 1992 movie Singles, where Steve (played by Campbell Scott) has a grand vision of a "supertrain" for Seattle -- it will cut down on traffic and be good for the environment. He explains the idea to his friend, who nods in approval, then hesitantly replies, "But I love my car." Steve eventually gets a meeting with the mayor, where he explains the great benefits of the supertrain. The mayor is silent for a moment, then effectively squashes Steve's dream with the same, simple response:
"People love their cars."
OK, that's Seattle (or Hollywood, for that matter). This is Myrtle Beach; is there room in our hearts for a streetcar?
They can’t even figure out how Lymo works around here—what good will a streetcar be?
The $30000 would be better spent elswhere. Schools or roads perhaps.