$200k Approved To Study Return Of Streetcars To Marin County
SAN RAFAEL (KCBS) - The Transportation Authority of Marin has authorized a $200,000 study to determine the need and feasibility of a ten-mile trolley line that would link three communities in the county.
It's not exactly a groundbreaking proposal; proponents say it's more like the resurrection of a transit system that rolled through Marin County long ago. In fact, prior to World War II, Marin had an extensive system of rail transit. This current proposal would bring some of that back into existence; namely, in the form of trolleys rolling along the streets from downtown San Rafael, through San Anselmo and to Fairfax.
One noticeable difference would be the method of power: instead of overhead electrical wires or diesel gas, the trolleys being proposed now would be powered by specialized, rechargeable batteries.
Street Car Proposal Would take Marin Back to the Future
Right now, it's not clear how much money would be needed to get such a system up and running. The trolley study plans to identify the cost, among other things - at some point this year. By some estimates, the study could be formally underway by May 2013.
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