Light rail in the United States


Light rail is defined in the United States as a mode of electrified rail-based transit, usually urban in nature, which is distinguished by operation in routes of generally exclusive, though not necessarily grade-separated, rights-of-way. This is distinguished from 'heavy rail' systems, also known as rapid transit or 'metro', which are fully grade-separated from other traffic, and which are characterized by higher passenger capacities than light rail. Arguably, traditional streetcars, which is rail-based transit that takes place in shared roadways with automobile traffic and thus does not operate in exclusive rights-of-way, can be considered to be a sub-set of light rail, though the two modes of transit are often treated as distinct in the United States.

Light rail transit in the United States

According to the American Public Transportation Association, of the roughly 30 cities with light rail systems in the United States, the light rail systems in six of them achieve more than 30 million unlinked passenger transits per year.
The United States has a number of light rail systems in its mid-sized to large cities. In the oldest legacy systems, such as in Boston, Cleveland, Newark, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and San Francisco, the light rail is vestigal from the first-generation streetcar systems of the 19th and early 20th centuries, but were spared the fate of other streetcar systems due to these systems having some grade separation from traffic and high ridership. A number of second-generation light rail systems were inaugurated in the 1980s starting with San Diego in 1981, with a few more built in the 1990s, and many more opened in lower density cities since the early 2000s.

History of streetcars and light rail in the United States

From the mid-19th century onwards, horse-drawn trams were used in cities around the world. The St. Charles Avenue Line of New Orleans' streetcar system is the oldest continuously operating street railway system in the world, beginning operation as a horse-drawn system in 1835.
From the late 1880s onwards, electrically powered street railways became technically feasible following the invention of a trolley pole system of collecting current by American inventor Frank J. Sprague who installed the first successful electrified trolley system in Richmond, Virginia in 1888. They became popular because roads were then poorly surfaced, and before the invention of the internal combustion engine and the advent of motor-buses, they were the only practical means of public transport around cities.
The streetcar systems constructed in the 19th and early 20th centuries typically only ran in single-car setups. Some rail lines experimented with multiple unit configurations, where streetcars were joined together to make short trains, but this did not become common until later. When lines were built over longer distances before good roads were common, they were generally called interurban streetcars or radial railways in North America.

Legacy systems

After World War II, six major cities in the United States continued to operate large first-generation streetcar systems, although most of them were later converted to modern light rail standards. Toronto in Canada marks the other city in North America with a continuing first-generation streetcar system. Additionally, a seventh American city, Cleveland, maintained an interurban system equivalent to what is now "light rail", that opened before World War I, and which is still in operation to this day.
LocationSystemYear
originally
opened		LinesCurrent
type		Comments
BostonMBTA Green Line,
Ashmont–Mattapan
High Speed Line		1897,
1929		4,
1		Light railWhile changes were made to the original 1897 Tremont Street subway in 1962 and 2004, and to some of the line routes over the years, and the Green Line's streetcar A branch was closed in 1967, both systems have run intact with mostly uninterrupted service since their opening dates.
ClevelandGreen Line,
Blue Line		1913,
1920		2Light rail
Aside from line and station renovations in the early 1980s, and the Waterfront extension in 1996, these lines have operated essentially uninterrupted as light rail/interurbans from their opening.
NewarkNewark Light Rail
19352Light railOutside of an extension in 2002, and the switch to modern LRT vehicles in 2001, this line still operates essentially unchanged since the 1930s. A second, modern LRT line, called the Broad Street Extension, opened in 2006.
New OrleansNew Orleans Streetcars18354Heritage streetcarThe St. Charles Avenue Line of the New Orleans streetcar system is the oldest continuously operating street railway system in the world, beginning operation as a horse-drawn system in 1835; the line was electrified in 1893. The Canal Street Line dates to 1861, and was electrified in 1894; however, the line was closed in May 1964, and was not re-inaugurated with restored service until 2004. The Riverfront Line and Loyola Avenue Line are "new", and did not open for service until 1988 and 2013, respectively.
PhiladelphiaSEPTA Routes:
Subway–Surface Trolley, Route 101 & 102 Trolley Lines, Girard Avenue Line		1906,
/2005		5,
2,
1		Light rail / Streetcar,
Heritage streetcar		The Subway–Surface Trolley Lines began operation as a mixed subway /streetcar system in 1906, and have continued operation essentially unchanged, including the use of single-car trolley vehicles, since that time – however, three of the original eight lines were replaced by buses in the 1950s.
Similarly, SEPTA Routes 101 & 102 began operation as rail lines in mostly exclusive rights-of-way in 1906, and have also operated mostly unchanged since then.
Additionally, SEPTA Route 15 dates to 1859 as a horse car line, and was electrified in 1895; it was replaced with buses relatively late, in 1992, but service on the line was resumed with heritage streetcars in 2005.
PittsburghPittsburgh Light Rail1903 / 1984–872Light railBegan as a first-generation streetcar network, but was converted to light rail. By the 1970s, most of the original streetcar routes were converted to bus, and it was decided to renovate the remaining streetcar lines as light rail. This included the construction of a new downtown subway tunnel section. The converted light rail system opened for service in 1984, with the downtown subway tunnel opened in 1985, and the rest of the system opened in 1987. The light rail system was further renovated in 2004. A subway extension to the North Shore opened in 2012.
San FranciscoMuni Metro,
E & F lines,
Cable cars		1912 / 1980–82,
1878		7,
2,
3		Light rail / Streetcar,
Heritage streetcar		Began as a first-generation streetcar network, and was partially converted to light rail. While most of San Francisco's original streetcar lines had been converted to buses in the post-World War II years, five lines that had dedicated rights-of-way or used narrow tunnels could not be converted to buses. By the 1950s and 1960s, planning for the Market Street subway was undertaken that would serve both the planned rapid transit BART system, and operate as a new subway tunnel for the five remaining streetcar lines. The partial conversion to the Muni Metro light rail/subway began service in 1980, with full service commencing in 1982 – while operation in the Market Street subway portion of Muni Metro can be considered true "light rail" service, the remaining surface portions of the five original Muni Metro lines still largely operate as streetcars. The surface Market Street streetcar operations ceased in 1982; however, full revenue surface streetcar service was restored to Market Street in 1995 as the heritage streetcar F Market & Wharves line. A sixth Muni Metro line, the T Third Street, was added to the system in 2007 and has more features of true light rail than older lines; a new subway extension for this line, the Central Subway, is under construction.
Many of these lines were formerly cable propelled, but converted to electric traction; only the steepest grades retained cable cars. While serving primarily as a tourist attraction, sections of the current cable car system have been in place prior to consolidation under the Municipal Railway.

When several of these cities upgraded to new technology, they called it "light rail" to differentiate it from their existing streetcar systems since some continued to operate portions of both the old and new systems.

Second-generation systems

In the United States, most of the original first-generation streetcar systems were decommissioned from the 1950s onward through approximately 1970 as the popularity of the automobile increased. Although a few traditional streetcar or trolley systems still exist to this day, the term "light rail" has come to mean a different type of rail system. Modern light rail technology has primarily German origins, since an attempt by Boeing Vertol to introduce a new American light rail vehicle was a technical failure. After World War II, the Germans retained their streetcar networks and evolved them into model light rail systems. Except for Hamburg, all large and most medium-sized German cities maintain light rail networks.
The renaissance of light rail in the United States began in 1981, when the first truly second-generation light rail system was inaugurated in the United States, the San Diego Trolley in California, which adopted use of the German Siemens-Duewag U2 light rail vehicle.
Historically, the rail gauge has had considerable variations, with a variety of gauges common in many early systems. However, most modern second-generation light rail systems now operate on standard gauge rail. An important advantage of standard gauge is that standard railway maintenance equipment can be used on it, rather than custom-built machinery. Using standard gauge also allows light rail vehicles to be delivered and relocated conveniently using freight railways and locomotives. Another factor favoring standard gauge is that low-floor vehicles are becoming popular in second-generation light rail systems, and there is generally insufficient space for wheelchairs to move between the wheels in a narrow gauge layout.

List of light rail systems operating in the United States

, there are a total of 53 operational light rail-type lines and systems that offer regular year-round transit service in the United States: 26 modern light rail systems, 14 modern streetcar systems, and 13 heritage streetcar systems. These include the seven 'legacy' systems described above; the remainder are second-generation "modern" light rail systems, or are "heritage" streetcar systems, opened since 1980.
The United States, with its 27 systems, has a much larger number of "true" light rail systems, by far, compared to any other country in the world.
All of the operational regular transit light rail and streetcar systems in the United States are listed in the following table:
City/Area servedStateSystemYear
opened		System
length		StationsLinesYear
last
expanded		Type of vehicleSystem
type
AtlantaGeorgiaAtlanta Streetcar2014121n/aSiemens S70Streetcar
BaltimoreMarylandBaltimore Light Rail19923332006ABB TractionLight rail
BostonMassachusettsMBTA Green Line18976641959Kinki Sharyo Type 7Light rail
BostonMassachusettsMBTA Green Line18976641959AnsaldoBreda Type 8Light rail
BostonMassachusettsAshmont–Mattapan
High Speed Line		192981n/aPCC streetcarHeritage light rail
BuffaloNew YorkBuffalo Metro Rail1985141n/aTokyu Car CorporationLight rail
Camden–
Trenton		New JerseyRiver Line 2004201n/aStadler GTWDiesel light rail
CharlotteNorth CarolinaLynx Blue Line20072612018Siemens S70Light rail
CharlotteNorth CarolinaCityLynx Gold Line201561n/aGomacoHeritage streetcar
CincinnatiOhioCincinnati Bell Connector2016181n/aCAF Urbos 3Streetcar
ClevelandOhioBlue, Green, and Waterfront Lines19133421996Breda LRVsLight rail
DallasTexasDallas Area Rapid Transit 19966442016Kinki Sharyo SLRVLight rail
DallasTexasDallas Streetcar2015612016Brookville LibertyStreetcar
DallasTexasMcKinney Avenue Transit Authority19894012015variousHeritage streetcar
DenverColoradoRTD Light Rail19945372017Siemens SD-100 and SD-160Light rail
DetroitMichiganQLine2017201n/aBrookville LibertyStreetcar
El PasoTexasEl Paso Streetcar2018271n/aPCC streetcarHeritage streetcar
HoustonTexasMETRORail20043932017Siemens S70Light rail
Jersey CityNew JerseyHudson–Bergen Light Rail 20042432006Kinki SharyoLight rail
Kansas CityMissouriKC Streetcar2016161n/aCAF Urbos 3Streetcar
KenoshaWisconsinKenosha Streetcar2000171n/aPCC streetcarHeritage streetcar
Little RockArkansasMetro Streetcar20041512007Birney-type streetcarsHeritage streetcar
Los AngelesCaliforniaMetro Rail 19907142016Siemens P2000Light rail
Los AngelesCaliforniaMetro Rail 19907142016Nippon Sharyo P2020Light rail
Los AngelesCaliforniaMetro Rail 19907142016AnsaldoBreda P2550Light rail
Los AngelesCaliforniaMetro Rail 19907142016Kinki Sharyo P3010Light rail
MemphisTennesseeMATA Trolley19932532004variousHeritage streetcar
MemphisTennesseeMATA Trolley19932532004GomacoHeritage streetcar
MilwaukeeWisconsinThe Hop2018181n/aBrookville LibertyStreetcar
Minneapolis–
Saint Paul		MinnesotaMETRO: Blue & Green lines20043722014Bombardier Flexity SwiftLight rail
Minneapolis–
Saint Paul		MinnesotaMETRO: Blue & Green lines20043722014Siemens S70Light rail
NewarkNew JerseyNewark Light Rail
19351722006Kinki SharyoLight rail
New OrleansLouisianaNew Orleans Streetcars1835streetcar-like surface stops42016Perley Thomas cars
and replicas		Heritage streetcar
NorfolkVirginiaThe Tide2011111n/aSiemens S70Light rail
Oceanside–
Escondido		CaliforniaSPRINTER2008151n/aSiemens VT642 DesiroDiesel light rail
Oklahoma CityOklahomaOklahoma City Streetcar2018222n/aBrookville LibertyStreetcar
PhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaSEPTA Routes 101 and 1021906522????Kawasaki K carsLight rail
PhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaSEPTA Subway–Surface
Trolley Lines		19061651972Kawasaki K carsStreetcar
PhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaSEPTA Route 15
2005??12012SEPTA PCC IIHeritage streetcar
PhoenixArizonaValley Metro Rail20083512016Kinki Sharyo LFLRVLight rail
PittsburghPennsylvaniaThe T:
Pittsburgh Light Rail		19845322012Siemens SD-400Light rail
PittsburghPennsylvaniaThe T:
Pittsburgh Light Rail		19845322012CAF Class 4300Light rail
PortlandOregonMAX Light Rail19869752015Bombardier Type 1Light rail
PortlandOregonMAX Light Rail19869752015Siemens SD660 Types 2 & 3Light rail
PortlandOregonMAX Light Rail19869752015Siemens S70 Types 4 & 5Light rail
PortlandOregonPortland Streetcar20017622012Škoda 10 TStreetcar
PortlandOregonPortland Streetcar20017622012Inekon 12 TrioStreetcar
PortlandOregonPortland Streetcar20017622012United Streetcar 100Streetcar
SacramentoCaliforniaSacramento RT Light Rail19875332015Siemens–Duewag U2Light rail
SacramentoCaliforniaSacramento RT Light Rail19875332015CAF Class 200Light rail
St. LouisMissouriMetroLink19933722006Siemens SD-400Light rail
St. LouisMissouriMetroLink19933722006Siemens SD-460Light rail
Salt Lake CityUtahTRAX19995032013Siemens SD-100Light rail
Salt Lake CityUtahTRAX19995032013Siemens S70Light rail
Salt Lake CityUtahS Line2013streetcar-like surface stops1n/aSiemens S70Streetcar
San DiegoCaliforniaSan Diego Trolley19815332005Siemens–Duewag U2Light rail
San DiegoCaliforniaSan Diego Trolley19815332005Siemens SD-100Light rail
San DiegoCaliforniaSan Diego Trolley19815332005Siemens S70Light rail
San DiegoCaliforniaSan Diego Trolley's Silver Line201191n/aPCC streetcarHeritage streetcar
San FranciscoCaliforniaMuni Metro19801206 2007Breda LRVsStreetcar
San FranciscoCaliforniaMuni Metro19801206 2007Siemens S200Streetcar
San FranciscoCaliforniaE Embarcadero and F Market & Wharves lines1995 3722015PCC streetcarHeritage streetcar
San FranciscoCaliforniaE Embarcadero and F Market & Wharves lines1995 3722015variousHeritage streetcar
San FranciscoCaliforniaSan Francisco
cable car system		1878streetcar-like surface stops31952Historic Cable carsHeritage cable car
San JoseCaliforniaSanta Clara VTA Light Rail19876232005Kinki Sharyo LFLRVLight rail
SeattleWashingtonLine 1
20091612016Kinkisharyo-MitsuiLight rail
SeattleWashingtonSeattle Streetcar20071722016Inekon 12 TrioStreetcar
TacomaWashingtonLine T
200361n/aŠkoda 10 TLight rail
TampaFloridaTECO Line Streetcar20021112010Birney-type streetcarsHeritage streetcar
TucsonArizonaSun Link2014221n/aUnited Streetcar 200Streetcar
Washington, D.C.District of ColumbiaDC Streetcar
201681n/aInekon 12 TrioStreetcar
Washington, D.C.District of ColumbiaDC Streetcar
201681n/aUnited Streetcar 100Streetcar

;Notes

Light rail systems in the United States under construction

The following table lists entirely new light rail or streetcar systems under heavy construction. LRT systems that are in the planning stages but not yet under construction, are not listed; expansions of existing LRT systems are also not listed here.
City/Area servedStateSystemPlanned
opening		System
length		Type of vehicleSystem type
TempeArizonaTempe Streetcar2021Brookville LibertyStreetcar
Orange CountyCaliforniaOC Streetcar2021Siemens S70Streetcar
MarylandMarylandPurple Line2022CAFLight rail
City & County of HonoluluHawaiiHART2020Hitachi Rail Italy Driverless MetroLight metro