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TRAFFIC

Boiseans will get to weigh in on streetcar

The City Council prepares to apply for a $40 million federal grant to pay for the project.

BY CYNTHIA SEWELL - cmsewell@idahostatesman.com

Published: 08/25/09

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ELSEWHERE

Boise Streetcar

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

WHO WOULD RIDE THE STREETCAR?

A study by URS estimates 1,200 to 1,600 people could ride the streetcar every day.

Likely streetcar riders:

� Downtown's 36,000 employees on lunchtime and errand trips.

� Special event goers (Qwest Arena, Alive After Five, Capital City Market).

� Tourists

� Capitol and state office visitors

How do people get around Downtown now?

80 percent: auto

16 percent: walk

3 percent: bus:

1 percent: bike

How many of those could shift to streetcar:

Bus: 100 percent

Walk: 20 percent

Auto: 10 percent

Bike: 10 percent

Daily ridership on streetcars with routes comparable to Boise's proposed 2.2 mile loop:

� Kenosha, Wisc.: 199 (1.9 miles)

� Little Rock, Ark.: 685 (3.5 miles)

� Seattle: 1,230 (2.6 miles)

� Tacoma, Wash.: 2,925 (2.6 miles)

� Tampa, Fla.: 1,082 (2.4 miles)

WHAT'S NEXT

Tuesday: City Council presentation on streetcar resolution. Noon, City Hall, 150 N. Capitol Blvd.

Sept. 1: City Council votes on non-binding resolution in support of the streetcar plan, needed as part of the grant application. 6 p.m., City Hall.

Sept. 15: Federal stimulus grant application due.

Late fall: Boise Streetcar Task Force presents its feasibility, economic, financing and engineering reports to the City Council.

January 2010: Federal grant award winners announced.

Winter 2010: City Council considers funding and implementation plan.

� If federal money is received in January and the council approves a plan, then the following events would occur:

Fall 2010: Construction begins.

Fall 2011: Construction complete and vehicles delivered.

Fall/winter 2011-12: Streetcar service begins.

� If TIGER funding is not awarded, the construction timeline may change.

The Boise City Council plans to hold at least three public meetings and two public hearings within the next several months before it makes a final decision on a Downtown streetcar.

The city is applying for $40 million in stimulus grant money for the first phase of the streetcar, which is estimated to cost between $45 million to $65 million. The competitive grant program, called TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) will award $1.5 billion for all types of surface transportation projects nationwide.

The city and its urban renewal agency, Capital City Development Corporation, will each contribute money to the project as well. The city is also considering creating a local improvement district to assess a special fee on Downtown property owners.

The first phase calls for 16-block route from Broadway Avenue to 16th Street along Main and Idaho streets. Future phases would include connections to Boise State and the 30th Street area.

Cynthia Sewell: 377-6428

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