Streetcar Rumors

I get asked by a lot of people about what I know about the streetcars. The answer is, not much. But here's a compilations of rumors I've heard in the last week about the streetcars:

• That the streetcar is going to open in January. Or March. Or June. Of 2014, 2015 or 2016. Or 2020.
• That there is a city council conspiracy to gentrify Anacostia by means of streetcar. 
• That the tracks reached Union Station, but were unable to continue because the planners forgot to ask Amtrak if they could connect their tracks into the station.
• That the streetcars wheels were built as a standard size for streetcars, but the tracks were laid in the standard size for trains. As such, the tracks had to be entirely ripped out and redone, which is why everything is taking so long.

The rumors reflect the natural cynicism of DC residents, and some of them are funny. Whether there is a seed of truth at the center of them, I don't know.

The only thing that I know for sure about the streetcars is that the wires are starting to go up. Please excuse the amateur photography, but check it out:

H & 12 

Looking east on H&12

Some workers using shop vacs to clean out the tracks. H&12

If you'd like some official information (whether it's true or not, I'm not sure... What is truth?), I suggest dcstreetcar.com.

And just for fun, if your favorite streetcar rumor isn't on here, add it to the comments.