Galveston, TX — Funding Sought for Hurricane Repairs

Rail Transit Online, January 2009

The city of Galveston will seek a special appropriation from Congress and the incoming Obama administration to repair its four diesel-electric streetcars that were severely damaged by Hurricane Ike last Sept. 13. The hurricane also smashed portions of the two-route system's track, which will have to be restored before service can resume.

As the replica heritage cars are self-propelled, there is no traction power system to be repaired, minimizing the disruption compared to that caused to the New Orleans streetcar system by Hurricane Katrina. The storm, which flooded Island Transit's maintenance facility and caused widespread destruction in the city, also wrecked 15 buses that will have to be replaced.