A trolley for Annapolis?

In the wake of two sustainability study missions, the DF in late 2024 undertook a research project to help investigate the possibility of a trolley (aka streetcar) for Annapolis. Visiting some dozen streetcar systems and museums across the eastern US, the DF met with system operators, technicians and executive directors and in 2025 delivered its initial report.

Since then, the DF has helped organize an informal working group to further investigate the feasibility of a trolley for Annapolis. The trolley workgroup is comprised of civic groups and government agencies that would be most directly impacted. The workgroup’s efforts uncovered a 2009 transit feasibility study expressly calling for future consideration of streetcar service in Annapolis.

Is that future now?

It might be. In the past 20 years, scores of US cities have re-installed streetcar systems to support downtown revitalization, improve pedestrian safety, facilitate sustainable transit and relieve traffic congestion. Historic or vintage streetcars in particular tend to be popular. By and large, the reintroduction of streetcar systems in the US has been a success, combating the siloed communities spawned by urban sprawl with a high-interaction community model that hearkens back to the small towns of 1940s America. But it remains to be seen whether a streetcar system would be a practical, desirable and cost-effective transit solution for a small city like Annapolis.

Other small cities, like Little Rock and Kenosha, have successful historic streetcar systems. And there are larger cities, like Dallas and Tampa, that have small vintage streetcar systems (less than 5mi) that are immensely popular. While Annapolis proper is a small city, it has high-density suburbs, is the seat of state government and has unusually high tourist traffic owing to its many historical attractions. And there have been dramatic infrastructure developments both downtown and in the suburbs since the 2009 study.

Annapolis could be a candidate. The DF will continue to partner with the trolley workgroup to help determine if a formal transit feasibility study is warranted. In the meantime, it’s inspiring to imagine the positive impact something like this might have: