John Wirtz has posted a great writeup over on XING Columbus about the differences in different types of rail transit. If you’re confused about the differences between heavy commuter rail, light rail, Streetcars, and monorail, then this is definitely something you should read.
All too often I hear people dismiss the idea of a modern Streetcar system in Columbus without really understanding what it actually is. Some people assume that it will have it’s own dedicated street space and aren’t aware that it can share lanes with buses and cars. Others think that our 3 mile line is too short and should stretch further, when actually Streetcars are intended to be smaller-scale circulator lines that compliment more regional transit systems.
John’s post also has links to existing streetcar systems, both modern and historic for anyone looking for some comparisons in other cities. A good read all around.