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Description
Public transportation has long played a role in evolving the shape and personality of cities. One of the most revolutionary changes to public transportation came in the form of the electric streetcar.
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A
Public
transportation
has
long
played
a
role
in
evolving
the
shape
and
personality
of
cities.
One
of
the
most
revolutionary
changes
to
public
transportation
came
in
the
form
of
the
electric
streetcar,
while
other
cities
in
North
Carolina
were
slow
to
embrace
the
streetcar.
Asheville
was
the
first
to
build
an
electric
streetcar
system
on
February
1st
1889.
The
first
streetcar
in
North
Carolina
made
its
debut
on
the
streets
of
Asheville
to
a
cheering
crowd.
The
first
streetcar
line
extended
from
PAC
Square
down
Biltmore
Avenue
in
South
Side
Avenue
to
a
railroad
depot
west
of
Biltmore
village.
A
The
system
was
enormous
ly
popular
in
a
number
of
railway
companies
built
streetcar
lines
to
new
neighborhoods
and
outlying
areas.
One
line
ran
to
West
Asheville
via
Depot
Street
and
another
ran
north
to
Weaverville.
As
time
went
on,
more
rails
were
built,
including
one
connecting
Charlotte
Street
and
The
Grove
Park
in
the
introduction
of
the
streetcar
transformed
the
way
people
moved
through
and
around
Asheville,
leading
to
economic
development
in
areas
such
as
Weaverville
and
West
Asheville
on
Haywood
Road,
you
can
find
a
marker
that
denotes
the
West
Asheville
end
of
car
line.
A
A
Eventually,
the
increasing
affordability
of
buses
and
personal
automobiles
put
the
popularity
of
the
streetcar
into
sharp
decline.
Asheville's
last
streetcar
ran
on
September
7th
1934.
Since
then,
Asheville
has
relied
on
a
bus
system.
Although
the
streetcar
has
by
and
large
disappeared
from
cities
across
the
nation,
we
can
still
see
traces
of
our
transit
heritage
on
the
streets
of
Asheville
today.
In
fact,
many
local
tour
buses
mimic
the
design
of
streetcars.
If
you
would
like
to
learn
more
about
the
history
of
Asheville
streetcars
visit,
the
North
Carolina
room
at
PAC
library
in
downtown
Asheville.