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A city's streetcar system can be many things. But it can't be everything. New research from the University of Kansas has found that cities with underperforming streetcar systems often get there by setting too many—and sometimes conflicting—goals for what they want the transit systems to accomplish.

Joel Mendez, assistant professor of public affairs & administration at KU, conducted a study in which he analyzed streetcar systems from around the United States. He then focused on two cities with high-performing systems and two with poor-performing streetcars to see what differences caused the disparities. Results showed it is a case of placemaking vs. place taking, or focusing on a streetcar as an economic developmental tool versus a system that takes passengers where they want to go.

The findings are published in the Journal of Planning Education and Research.

Over the past decade, more than $1 billion has been invested in streetcar systems across the nation.

"The reality is most systems are not doing great in terms of attracting passengers," Mendez said. "This research was geared toward understanding what's driving performance outcomes in these streetcar systems. I explored the role which goal tension plays in this situation as past research has found that transit projects can pursue as many as 25 distinct and often conflicting goals."

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