But dammit, please, PLEASE get an manufacturer that uses modern principles in either Canada or the US to build the future Streetcars.

The current "additions" are already late, they cost more than the MAX, and yeah they're neato and all, but the skin can be changed or designed however they need to be done. As for the articulations that isn't needed either. Get far cheaper, slightly smaller (a 10% decrease in carrying ability), assure that the Burnside (or whereever) designs are appropriate to that capabilities of past Streetcars (at least a 8-10mph average vs the current 6mph)...

...and my biggest wish which should be possible with ease with a slightly smaller less expensive Streetcar...

...RUN MORE FREQUENCY!!!! With my budget being bracketed in the highest quadrant of taxes I'd also expect the Streetcar to take the place of "honestly" being the less expensive over a 20-40 years period over a bus. Currently this isn't going to be the case, but it definately could be.

Please refer this to Little Rock, AR, New Orleans, LA, Tampa, FL, and other cities with Streetcars that have been much less expensive to operate and some vastly less expensive to build the infrastructure for.

But I digress, all the above aside. Nice plan, it will add value to the area, and it will increase the chance (pending no more petty tax increases) that I stay in the area along with the hundreds and hundreds of others in my tax paying bracket.