Gainesville — Conceptual Study
April 2013
The Gainesville City Commission has approved a conceptual study for development of an urban circulator streetcar system at a consulting cost of up to $100,000, The Gainesville Sun reports. Gainesville with a population of some 124,000 is the largest city in north central Florida. Wikipedia says Gainesville "is home to the University of Florida, the nation's seventh largest university campus by enrollment."
The City Commission approved engaging Tindale-Oliver & Associates to perform the study. Commissioners envision that the planning process could take several years, so advocated getting started.
Ideas circulated so far favor a streetcar or circulator linking the University of Florida, Shands at UF, the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, the several million square feet of development planned in Innovation Square, downtown and the Power District.
Both rail and bus approaches will be studied.
Pre-study cost projections for the system suggest a $128 million capital cost and annual operating expenses of $2 million. |