Casting a vote for trolleys in the Triad
The following is a Counterpoint column.
By George D. Martin Jr.
If absentee votes are admissible, allow me to cast one for trolleys in the Triad, as proposed by Al Mankoff, "Why not here?" (Ideas, Jan. 20). I am a native son whose career took him in a different direction, but I have never lost interest in Greensboro. My brother there keeps me informed, particularly on rail and transit matters. I have been interested in electric traction ever since the day in 1934, when I saw one of Greensboro’s new trackless trolleys on its delivery run, being towed from High Point at highway speed by a power company truck. Since the coach had top speed of about 35 mph in service, it may never again have moved that fast!
Much has been written and said about traffic congestion and soaring gas prices, but most of the suggested solutions, such as more lanes or ethanol fuel, are only symptomatic; what is really needed is a fundamental change of direction. I have reviewed Mankoff’s proposal in detail and endorse it as an excellent plan for returning electric transportation to the Triad. My credentials include electrical engineering (N.C. State, 1951); several years as a subject cataloger in the Library of Congress, handling engineering and railroad works from the entire Western world; and 20 years as an electrical engineer with the Army. During my Army years, I enjoyed frequent access to Germany, allowing me to see and ride its modern and well-integrated transportation system.
Despite the merits of electric transportation, the public is not likely to demand it spontaneously. Mankoff wisely starts at the beginning, with a multi-faceted program to build community awareness. Skipping some of the intermediate steps, that awareness will finally translate into the political will necessary to commit money and build.
Transit planners in the Triad would be well advised to consider, and maybe emulate, the experience in San Diego, where the modern trolley renaissance got its start. To their credit, the people of San Diego chose not to involve federal money and the intrusive "strings" that come with it. Instead, they built what they could afford with local funds, making use of existing railroads in places, and track in the street where it made sense. The system, known as the "San Diego Trolley," is very successful and has been extended several times.
Given the independence, resourcefulness and love of excellence that are natural for Tar Heels, I am optimistic that the Triad will likewise have a system exactly suited to its special needs.
The writer lives in Springfield, Va.