What's missing? Us! (Infrastructurist)

Yesterday, our friends over at Infrastructurist put together this nifty map illustrating the return of the streetcar to American pavement. One thing was conspicuously missing–or rather three things: “our” fair cities New York, LA, and San Francisco.

The once and future Union Square (Wikimedia Commons)

After all, all three have a long tradition of streetcars, and while only one still runs them, albeit for largely touring purposes. Light rail and the like have been tried and proposed, though apparently not at the cost effectiveness of street cars. And there are new subways under construction… oh wait.

Not just for tourists anymore. (Wikimedia Commons)

Which is kind of the point. In an increasingly uncertain (transportation) world, shouldn’t every option and ever possibility be on the table? New York, LA, and San Francisco are often heralded for their planning prowess. Well, let them put their money where their mouths are. There’s certainly enough of it sloshing around.