2016 UAA Annual Conference

There has been increased popularity of streetcar investments in China because of its relatively high transport capacity with moderate cost and environmental friendly features. However, the actual performance of modern streetcar in China does not meet the projects’ expectations. This paper chooses two modern streetcar lines (Nanjing Hexi Modern Streetcar and Shanghai Zhangjiang Modern Streetcar) to examine their performances based on their transportation objectives and urban development objectives through qualitative analysis. Both lines have low ridership, low speed, low frequency and high operation costs. One important reason is the location of these two lines. Unlike the locations of streetcar lines in US and Europe which are often in central city area, these two lines are located in areas outside the central city to connect the new town. This kind of location cannot provide enough passengers to the modern streetcar. Other reasons include complicated traffic conditions and safety concerns. For the urban development objectives, the paper examines their impacts on urban landscape, economic development, and new town development. The Nanjing Hexi Modern Streetcar had carried lots of passengers during the Youth Olympic Game. It also contributes to the urban landscape. The Shanghai Zhangjiang Modern Streetcar meets the commute demand of the new town. However, these two modern streetcar lines’ contributions to urban development are limited. Findings of this paper can provide insightful lessons for other modern streetcar projects in China.