City Spends $63,543 to study alternate route proposal

As reported in the Idaho Statesman, the city wasted another $63,543 to study the feasibility of putting the Boise streetcar on an alternate route.  The study basically confirmed that the bridges on 9th and on Capitol Blvd. would have to be modified to carry the extra load at a cost that may be as much as $635,000.  


The story is here:


http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/07/03/1254770/streetcar-river-crossing-not-as.html


Mayor Bieters other proposal, since the city did not get the federal grant, is to push through a local option tax to raise the sales tax in Boise to 6.5%.  This will impact consumers and businesses, and provide very little in the way of a solution to the tranportation needs of Boise.


Everyone also needs to remember that the streetcar requires overhead wires to operate.  These wires will have to be strung from poles and buildings, and will uglify any route that the streetcar runs on.  These wires are NOT pretty as anyone who has seen actual streetcar routes can attest to.


Why not a more progressive, modern approach such as electric shuttle buses?  The city has not even looked at them although they are in wide use in cities worldwide.  Instead of spending 


Please continue to protest this waste of money.  Contact the mayors office and city council today.