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The sight of streetcars huddled together could and should be a thing of the past.

In fact, the sight of streetcars should be a thing of the past except when they run on dedicated track. Streetcars just don't work here anymore.

Traffic congestion is only exacerbated by streetcar operation on streets such as King, Queen, Roncesvalles, Bathurst, Dundas and so on. The far-too-frequent track replacements are an immense inconvenience to all concerned. Local businesses are particularly hard hit by restricted access for customers and suppliers' deliveries. Unless the replacements can be engineered to last at least 15 to 20 years, what's the point?

Saying streetcars are less polluting than busses is wishful thinking.

Once you factor in all the exhaust gases from all the vehicles idling behind them at every stop, added to the fact that much of our electrical energy comes from coal-fired generating facilities, the net result is that they are in fact causing more pollution than several other alternatives.

If diesel buses are not wanted, how about trolley buses? Trolley buses use electricity but they can pull over to the curb and stop without cars idling behind them.

This is also much safer for the passengers getting on and off the bus. Trolleys can also maneuver around many traffic situations that would stop a streetcar right in its tracks. I know they use a different electrical setup from streetcars but it would still be a lot easier and cheaper to retrofit the overhead wires than it is to dig up our roads as often as they do now.

Almost every recommendation suggested to improve streetcar service - restricting turns, eliminating on-street parking, adding inspectors and policing - is going to add cost and inconvenience to all Torontonians, not just drivers. The best and most cost effective improvement the TTC could make right now is to start phasing these obsolete monstrosities out of operation.

In case you are thinking I've only just arrived in town, let me tell you that I have lived in Toronto since 1964 and was an enthusiastic fan of the Red Rocket for many years, but the population and resultant traffic have grown considerably in that time and for the most part streetcars are no longer the sensible choice they once were.

Hugh Hollas