Streetcar struggle between downtown and Oak Cliff won't go away anytime soon

Dallas Morning News
Rudolph Bush // November 27, 2009

Today, Michael Lindenberger and Roy Appleton report today on the ongoing effort to build a a starter streetcar system in Dallas (sorry McKinney Avenue trolley, we're not counting you in this).

They write: The initial focus has been on a downtown loop that planners want as a complement to a second downtown light-rail line that is expected to open in 2016. But Oak Cliff leaders are urging City Hall to explore beginning with a loop that would connect downtown Dallas and Oak Cliff, where they say a trolley line would have a bigger impact on economic development.

As I understand it, the only way the council will consider shifting an initial line to include Oak Cliff is if Dallas gets approval of federal funding grants that include an Oak Cliff line.

If the city isn't lucky enough to win those grants (and they are very competitive), then City Hall will move forward on a plan to build the downtown line with a variety of local funds, including tax increment and public improvement dollars from properties along the planned downtown streetcar loop.