Streetcars seen as possible boost to CdA

Streetcars remind many of days gone by, but a group of college students sees them as part of Coeur d’Alene’s transportation future.

The students, enrolled at Washington State University’s Design Institute in Spokane, are proposing a 6-mile electric streetcar loop connecting the Riverstone development, North Idaho College, downtown Coeur d’Alene, midtown and Kootenai Medical Center.

They will present the concept 5 p.m. Monday at Coeur d’Alene City Hall.

“Streetcars are making a revival in a lot of cities nowadays,” said David Wang, who teaches WSU’s Interdisciplinary Design Institute and oversaw the students’ project. The streetcar project is part of the studio’s goal of giving students opportunities to solve real world problems creatively.

“It helps to contribute to smart growth and allows for urban areas to continue to grow without raising the congestion of auto traffic,” Wang said of streetcars. “It’s something that would link downtown Coeur d’Alene with its other amenities.”

Wang said his students envision seven stops – two at Riverstone, one at North Idaho College, two downtown, one in midtown and one at Kootenai Medical Center.

SRM Development, which is building Riverstone, is supporting the students’ work, said Mike Craven, SRM’s development manager.

“We see it as a great economic development tool for Coeur d’Alene,” Craven said. “We think this would be a huge benefit.”

He added that with existing right of way along old rail lines and community interest, the project is a real possibility.

A feasibility study was completed this year on a proposed Spokane streetcar system serving the downtown core, the Riverpoint campus and the Spokane County Courthouse area. It’s estimated the 3.5-mile loop would cost $51.8 million to build and $1.7 million a year to operate.

Terry Cooper, manager of Coeur d’Alene Downtown Association, said Friday he had just heard of the Coeur d’Alene proposal and found it intriguing.

Cooper questioned some of the residential area routing south of North Idaho College but said connecting the people who live and work in areas north of downtown to the downtown core is important.

“We think it’s a great idea, but we have to get more involved,” he said.

No specific engineering studies, cost estimates or funding plans have been completed so far, but the students estimate the project could cost about $60 million to build, said Wang.

Whether the students’ idea will be realized will be up to politicians, residents and business owners to plan and build a streetcar system.