The Madison Streetcar Study Committee met Tuesday evening to hear the results of the Madison Streetcar Feasibility Study, which has been ongoing since 2005.
The study, conducted by HDR, an architectural, engineering and consulting firm, concluded that bringing a streetcar system to downtown Madison will increase property value near streetcar lines, enhance workforce mobility and reduce traffic congestion downtown.
Charlie Hales, vice president of HDR and project manger, said the total cost estimate for the project is just over $58 million. He said a downtown streetcar loop is an affordable first phase in streetcar and commuter train transportation.
""We think this project is the right way to go ... it's an excellent fit for Madison,"" Hales said. ""This system is designed to compliment Madison Metro, so riders shouldn't notice a change, except more choice.""
Mayor Dave Cieslewicz's spokesman George Twigg said the meeting was just another step in a large and complicated project.
""It's not the conclusion; it's just the next step along the way,"" Twigg said. ""It is a way for other city and elected officials to get an idea of what it will actually look like ... and the cost-benefit analysis.""
Still, some Madison residents were not swayed by the study's findings and voiced opposition. Each resident was given three minutes to speak out against the findings.
Madison resident Stuart Seffern objected to the streetcar project because of the $58 million cost, which he said is ""twice the entire Dane County budget.""
""This is the single most irresponsible expenditure by the city of Madison,"" Seffern said.
Bob Schafer, another Madison resident opposed to the project, said public participation has been lacking during the process. He said residents need more than three minutes to voice their opinions on the matter.
According to the proposed plan, the streetcar tracks would span much of the east side of campus, such as the Kohl Center, Park Street and Memorial Union—giving students easy access to a new choice of transportation.
""It would make it much easier for students to get around downtown,"" Twigg said.
Dave Trowbridge, a city planning and development employee, is in charge of the streetcar study, and said streetcars have certain advantages over buses.
""[The streetcars] will be more frequent, you know where the route is, you know where the tracks are going, whether it's past the dorms or wherever,"" Trowbridge said. ""There's a level of certainty getting on a streetcar.""
Trowbridge said Madison could see streetcars up and running in three to five years, unless the community decides against it. If people think the project is too expensive, he said, they will tell their alders to vote against it.
""People will hopefully come to the conclusion that if you invest in a streetcar, you get development after that, and that adds value to a city,"" Trowbridge said.
