City officials want at least
a portion of the 2.3-mile Ybor City heritage streetcar line ready to carry
passengers in time for the Jan. 28, 2001 Super Bowl. But before that can happen
a contractor must be found who can complete track laying and electrification by
year’s end, an operating company has to be hired and an assessment district
established to help pay operating costs. “It's a possibility,” city development
administrator Fernando Noriega told the St. Petersburg Times. “We'd love
to see a portion of it working by then. It would be real good exposure (to
visitors).” Tampa Historic Streetcar, Inc. has already issued a Request for
Expressions of Interest from firms interested in operating the line. The
$24-million project, which will link the Tampa Convention Center with the
historic district of Ybor City, was to be completed by spring of this year. But
the route had to be reconfigured in several places after new developments, such
as a hotel and an entertainment center, were announced. “The trolley was
conceived of to promote these kinds of projects,” city transportation manager
Elton Smith told the Times. “But before we're even open, they're here.”
In addition, the planned use of an existing building at the city yard for a
maintenance base was scrapped after the mayor decided to sell the site. Now, a
new carbarn must be constructed to match other historic buildings. Meanwhile,
the first of eight replica heritage trolleys is scheduled to arrive this month
from Gomaco. It’s now hoped to complete the entire project by the end of 2001.
