The District of Columbia is a steadily growing, vibrant place — not just the nation’s capital, but also an urban center teeming with an estimated 1,000 new residents each month, a vibrant business community and rapidly changing neighborhoods. As the District becomes more crowded, residents — already a transit-savvy population — need reliable and convenient travel choices that free them from the need to own and park a car.

The capital’s first segment of the streetcar system — almost 2.5 miles long — brought premium,  free transportation to the H/Benning corridor, where business is booming.  Since opening for passengers in February 2016, ridership on the H/Benning segment has far exceeded projections. The system is now garnering well over 100,000 passengers each month and continues to score high marks for frequency and reliability. 

As the District Department of Transportation’s program management consultant, we led a team of more than 30 subconsultants to support the DC Streetcar program’s implementation. We provided a full range of multi-disciplinary program services, including economics and finance planning.

The H/Benning corridor is now a DC hotspot, boasting $365 million in development projects in the first year of service alone. With eyes to the future, the District continues to plan for DC Streetcar’s expansion via two active planning studies for the remaining planned segments.

An expanded system in the works will cross the entirety of Washington, D.C. — from the Georgetown Waterfront inthe west to the Benning Road Metro on the capital’s east side. 

The full DC Streetcar route will facilitate greater mobility for District residents, workers and visitors by complementing existing transit options, and by creating neighborhood connections where none previously existed.