Committee of 100 Opposes 8th Street Streetcar Route
by Larry Janezich
The District’s chief historic preservation group – The Committee of 100 – has recommended against a streetcar line along the 8th Street corridor connecting M Street, SE, and H Street, NE. “This area is already commercially successful, has an established residential character and is served amply by N/S buses,” a report issued by the group this morning noted. “We urge the city to explore another N/S connection…perhaps connecting Reservation 13 with Benning Road.” The Committee urges giving priority to routes in areas underserved by mass transit and where large scale development has been approved.
This recommendation was only one part of a long-awaited 91 page report. The Committee will present hard copies to DC Councilmembers and ANCs this week.
In the report, the Committee expresses general support of the streetcar plan, but notes that it is being implemented without a financing and maintenance plan. The group also urges that the city do no rezoning to increase density; it opposes trading zoning incentives for private investment in the system, opposes overturning a federal law that bans overhead streetcar wires (with only a temporary exemption for H Street), and opposes purchase of any more streetcars that can’t be adapted to run on a wireless system.
The complete report can be viewed here: http://www.committeeof100.net/
CAPITOL HILL CORNER 