Transit Plan on Track

"I don't think there's been a council oversight hearing on this project in more than five years," he said.

Although he supports streetcars and light rail, Graham questioned whether the planned Anacostia route made the most sense. It would be convenient for federal workers, he said, "but what are the direct benefits for the people of the District of Columbia? . . . Is this the most bang for the buck that we can get?"

Streetcar routes along H Street NE and K Street downtown might have more benefits, he said. City transportation officials say they hope to eventually run streetcars along K Street and in Capitol Hill and other corridors, adding a layer to the transit options created by the increasingly strained underground Metro system.

One streetcar route under consideration would follow the path of the popular DC Circulator bus from Benning Road and H Street NE to Union Station, then K Street, and then to the west side of downtown, according to Emeka Moneme, District transportation director.

"We have limited roadway capacity in the city, and this is a way to move more people," Moneme said.

Officials say Anacostia was chosen because it is underserved by transit and economic development. Several housing, retail and commercial projects are planned for the area around the Anacostia station. Streetcars can "really spur economic development," Moneme said.

Streetcars and the other infrastructure needed to run them are viewed by developers as a permanent commitment to improving a community, he said. By comparison, a new bus route can always be eliminated.

The streetcars to be used in Anacostia, manufactured by Skoda-Inekon in Plzen, Czech Republic, are about eight feet wide and 66 feet long, smaller than a typical Metrorail car. The District cars cost $3 million each.

The District project began several years ago. As part of the planning, city officials and residents traveled to Portland a few years ago -- some went twice -- to see its streetcar system firsthand.

Kenneth Davis, a District resident who made the trip, said he was sold on the merits of streetcars after riding. Some earlier proposals had irked residents who feared that any benefit the light rail line might bring would be outweighed by increased traffic and reduced curbside parking.

"It was impressive to watch the streetcars moving down very narrow streets," he said. "They didn't interfere with traffic or parking."

D.C. officials say one concern is the high rate of pedestrian traffic incidents around the Anacostia Metro station. Adding a transit service will require more control over pedestrian access, they said.