Story Created: Sep 9, 2008 at 4:17 PM MDT
Story Updated: Nov 21, 2008 at 2:57 AM MDT
On this journey back to the future, passengers were asked to imagine they were in a streetcar like the Boise trolleys of the late 1890s and early 1900s.
"We had this incredible trolley system," said Boise State University Prof. Todd Shallat, who served as a tour guide. "Highly efficient, for a nickel, it went all through the city."
Now the city wants to bring back the electric trolleys and even plans to have them up and running in five years on a rail loop of about two and a half miles around town -- basically from St. Luke's to the east and 17th Street to the west.
"This is one small step forward in what we hope is a rail-based transit system all across the valley," said Boise Mayor Dave Bieter. "We need that desperately."
But supporters of this streetcar initiative admit that funding will be a challenge. The first phase is expected to cost some $60 million with much of that money coming from property owners along the rail line in local improvement districts.
Supporters say streetcars not only reduce noise and emissions, they also stimulate economic development.
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