A little known project that will benefit
from the generous funding provided in the FY 2001 transportation bill is the
proposed electric trolley for downtown Wilmington. With $5 million from
Congress now secure, design and engineering will get underway, and local transit
officials hope to have the heritage line up and running by 2004. Last year
Congress appropriated $1 million for the trolley, officially named the Downtown
Transit Connector. Planners will be seeking about 70 percent of the
construction cost from the federal government, with the remainder coming from
state, city and private sources. The proposal calls for laying approximately
two miles of track the length of downtown, which has fallen on hard times,
beginning at Rodney Square and Market Street. After passing the Amtrak station
the line will leave Market Street and enter an abandoned railroad right of way,
terminating at a new riverfront development area. Supporters hope the
streetcars will lure new businesses and their customers, helping the city
jump-start a badly needed economic resurgence.
