Presbyterian College > Academic Web Server > Jon Bell > Transit > (Cities | Types) > Savannah

Savannah, Georgia: River Street Streetcar

Description

On 11 February 2009, a restored streetcar from Melbourne, Australia began running along River Street, on Savannah's riverfront. It uses a street-running railroad track which the city bought from Norfolk Southern. The route is about 0.75 mile (1.2 km), extending between about Montgomery Street and East Broad St. This is part of the "Dot" (Downtown Transportation) service operated by Savannah Mobility Management, which also includes a rubber-tired shuttle bus loop and the Savannah Belles ferry which crosses the river to Hutchinson Island.

Instead of getting electric power from an overhead wire, the streetcar has been fitted with an onboard generator that uses biodiesel fuel, produced from used cooking oil collected from Savannah restaurants.

The restored car arrived in Savannah in November 2008, and was introduced to the public as part of a Climate Action Parade along River Street on 9 December 2008. On 13 December, it provided free rides as a preview of regular service.

Other Sites

Pictures

[picture #1] | [picture #2] The west end of the line is between Martin Luther King Blvd. and Montgomery St.

[picture] After hours, the streetcar is kept in a fenced-in shelter erected over the track just west of King Blvd. On my first visit in December 2008, before the streetcar had started regular operation, the shelter had not yet been erected. [picture #1] | [picture #2]

[picture] The streetcar enters River St. in a single file of traffic.

[picture] River St. passes underneath the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

[picture] On a sunny, warm Saturday afternoon, River St. is packed with pedestrians and traffic, so the streetcar can usually proceed only at walking pace.

[picture] A Dot shuttle bus gets out of the way of the streetcar which is running westbound against the flow of traffic.

[picture] The motorman's view of oncoming one-way traffic getting out of his way as the streetcar travels west.

[picture] The streetcar passes the foot of Lincoln St., in an overhead view from Factors' Walk with the Savannah River in the background.

[picture] Near the end of the line, the streetcar passes the "Waving Girl" statue.

[picture] A bit further along, we get a view of the river.

[picture] The west end of the line, at the foot of East Broad St.

[picture] Interior of the streetcar.

This page was last updated on 8 March 2009.

Presbyterian College > Academic Web Server > Jon Bell > Transit > (Cities | Types) > Savannah

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