Past in Motion: Saving San Francisco's Historic Streetcars

Описание: Join CPF as we explore the story behind San Francisco’s beloved historic streetcars—and the unlikely, grassroots preservation effort that brought them back to life as working transit. Rick Laubscher, president and CEO of the nonprofit ‪@marketstreetrailway‬, will take participants inside the multi-decade journey to save, restore, and operate vintage streetcars on today’s F-line, tracing the effort from early advocacy and experimentation to full integration into the city’s modern transportation system.

Rick will begin with a brief look at San Francisco’s transit history and the role streetcars played in shaping the city, comparing it to the path Los Angeles followed. He will then share how a small group of advocates—often learning as they went—navigated technical, political, and financial challenges to transform endangered vehicles into a globally recognized preservation success. Along the way, he’ll reflect on key turning points, partnerships, and hard-earned lessons from keeping historic infrastructure both authentic and operational.

The program will also look ahead, examining current restoration and maintenance priorities, evolving funding and governance challenges, and the ongoing role historic streetcars can play in creating a more people-centered, sustainable Market Street. This behind-the-scenes conversation offers valuable insight for preservationists, planners, and anyone interested in how historic resources can remain active, relevant parts of urban life.

About our Speaker
Rick Laubscher is President and CEO of Market Street Railway, the nonprofit partner preserving San Francisco’s historic streetcars. In the early 1980s as Chair of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce Transportation committee, Rick helped launch the Historic Trolley Festival, a grassroots effort that demonstrated the appeal of vintage streetcars and set the stage for the eventual restoration and operation of the F Market & Wharves line. A former journalist and communications executive, he is founding chair of The City Club of San Francisco and a recipient of the Silver SPUR Award for civic achievement.

Recorded Thursday, March 5th