U.S. Streetcar Systems

John Smatlak - RPR Consulting

California Streetcar Systems

San Diego

Silver Line

Began Operation: 2011

Miles of Line:  2

Stations: 9

Org: Non-profit   

Schedule: Weekends & Holidays

As the home of the pioneering San Diego Trolley, which began the U.S. light rail renaissance in 1980, it only seems natural that the city would also have a vintage trolley service. The non-profit San Diego Vintage Trolley Inc. obtained several vintage PCC type streetcars beginning in 2005 and set about restoring them using volunteers drawn from a non-profit and the staff of San Diego Trolley. The group completed the restoration of the first car in 2011 and it is now operated by San Diego Trolley over a portion of the light rail system in the downtown area.  

The service currently operates every 30 minutes on weekends and holidays. A separate $2 fare is charged, collected on board the car. The car is operated with an operator and a conductor that greets passengers as they board through the back door. Plans include the restoration of additional cars to provide a spare vehicle and ultimately expand service. 

MTS is also studying the feasibility of reconnecting Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo and Downtown San Diego with a streetcar extension. 
The project study corridor runs between the City College Trolley Station area, served by San Diego Trolley Blue and Orange Lines and over a dozen bus routes, and Balboa Park, in the vicinity of the San Diego Zoo. The study website has further details.

Car 529 breaks through the ceremonial ribbon	Opening ceremony	On the downtown loop
On the downtown loop	Boarding is via the rear doors, the front door being occupied by a wheelchair lift. Volunteer hosts accompany the cars.		On the downtown loop
Photos above from San Diego Vintage Trolley, Ron Sutch, Andy Goddard and Ron Johnsen
Between circuits around the downtown loop, the car pauses at 12th & Imperial	On Park Blvd.	Passing the San Diego Trolley yards	Stopped next to Petco Park
Operator's position	One of the standard wheelchair lifts from the first generation of San Diego Trolley equipment was adapted to fit the front doorway.		Harry Mathis with car 529
Arrival of one of the former San Francisco PCC cars in San Diego. December 2005	Chairman Harry Mathis talks to reporters	Restoration progress on one of the former San Francisco cars, early 2009	The restored cars are to be painted in the original San Diego PCC car paint scheme. 1947 photo by Bob McCay
Restoration progress, May 2009. The restored cars will be fitted with pantographs.		Car 530 has had its nose painted in the San Diego scheme in this September 2008 view.	Night test run, 2011
Photos from San Diego Vintage Trolley Inc.

Other Projects

In addition to the Silver Line and the activities of San Diego Vintage Trolley Inc., the North Park Main Street Association had also proposed a line that would link the world-famous San Diego Zoo with remote parking areas and the North Park neighborhood. The new 3.5-mile line would utilize an historic streetcar routing along University Ave. and Park Blvd.

North Park Main Street is a non-profit neighborhood revitalization organization. In their proposal, they pointed out four primary benefits for the streetcar project:

• Transportation Enhancement

• Economic Development Engine

• Tourist Attraction

• Preservation of Heritage 

A grass-roots campaign to engage the local community resulted in an impressive list of local business, planning and historical groups supporting the proposal. North Park Main Street also researched vintage trolley success stories around the country, looking for ideas that have potential for application in San Diego. A formal feasibility was conducted in 2002, but as yet no further action has been taken on this proposal. 

Another local group owns several historic carbodies that it hopes to restore to operation. Check out their website for more details.

Locally-owned historic San Diego streetcar carbody	Georgia St. Bridge 2001	Historic view of the Georgia St. bridge	View of University Ave. from bridge
Richard Kurylo Photos