Mayor Dave Cieslewicz's Streetcar Study Committee may not be the only entity deciding the fate of his proposal to add streetcars to Madison to address growing congestion and pollution problems.
Cieslewicz said Thursday he will propose a binding referendum on any proposal the committee study group draws up.
""I won't go ahead with streetcars unless they make sense for Madison and have the support of the public,"" Cieslewicz said in a statement.
While in office, Cieslewicz has launched environmentally focused transportation initiatives, like purchasing some of the nation's first diesel electric hybrid buses for the city. He now estimates that in 20 years, Dane County will see 100,000 more cars. He said the streetcar proposal could help combat this influx.
However, the streetcar idea does have opposition. Mayoral candidates Ray Allen and Peter Munoz, in particular, have called the idea misplaced and costly.
The Streetcar Study Committee is studying options and will release a final proposal this summer after the winner of April's election has been decided.
The mayor will introduce a resolution at the next City Council meeting that would require a referendum before Madison could continue with a project, the statement said.
