Streetcar tracks in the ground on H Street. Photo by J-Blue.

Big news on DC streetcars today. According to a story in the Business Journal, DC Councilman Tommy Wells has convinced Mayor Fenty to focus on getting the H Street streetcar operational as soon as possible, leaping it ahead of Anacostia, which was slated to be first.

The major issue with H Street is how to power the rail cars. Being inside the L’Enfant City, H Street is encumbered by the law restricting overhead wires. There are some alternatives out there, but they’re more expensive and our existing vehicles aren’t set up to use them. Wells says he is planning to introduce a bill that would allow streetcar wires on H Street later this year, but Congress may not allow it. In that event, at least we’ll know we have to find an alternate.

As far as I know there isn’t a schedule for when streetcars might begin running on H Street. It probably depends on the power issue. Hopefully this realignment of priorities results in faster implementation of light rail in the District. One thing we don’t need is yet another delay. In September DDOT boss Gabe Klein said the Anacostia line would open in 2012, with an initial segment possible earlier. It would be a real shame if 2012 comes and goes and we still don’t have streetcars running anywhere in the city.

As for the wire issue, I think the compromise solution suggested by GGW is very reasonable. There may be good reasons to prohibit wires on Pennsylvania Avenue or in front of the National Mall, but every street inside the L’Enfant City is not created equal. H Street is neither monumental nor particularly historic; there’s no good reason it ought not have streetcar wires.