River Rail Streetcar

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The River Rail Streetcar is a heritage railway streetcar system operating in Little Rock and North Little Rock is the U.S. state of Arkansas. It has operated since 1 November 2004. As of February 17, 2007, the system is 3.4 miles long after its first extension was put into service. River Rail Streetcar is operated by Central Arkansas Transit Authority.

1 History
2 Rolling stock
3 See also
4 Sources

[edit] History

Little Rock has had streetcar service before 2004. The first urban rail public transport system was horse tramways opened in 1876. Horse tramways operated till 1895. There was also steam tramway that operated between 3 July 1888 and 1889. Electric traction was introduced 23 December 1891. Electric streetcars operated till 1 September 1947.

The new heritage streetcar, officially called River Rail Streetcar, was opened on 1 November 2004. This Phase I consisted of single 2.5 miles long line, that connects two cities, Little Rock and North Little Rock, that are situated on the opposite sides of the Arkansas River.

The River Rail Streetcar carried 200,000 passengers in its first year of operation.

In January 2006, the construction of the Phase II begun. Phase II is the 0.9 mile extension to the William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Library and Heifer International headquarters.

On Feb. 16, 2007, Pulaski County Judge Buddy Villines, Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola, and North Little Rock Mayor Pat Hays cut the ribbon marking the official opening of the River Rail extension to the Presidential Center and Heifer International, according to the cat.org website, adding almost a 33% increase in new track to the system. The total mileage is now 3.4 miles.

Additional extensions to the system are being discussed, the most ambitious of which is a 2.5 mile extension to Little Rock National Airport.