The Dinkey, a rail-car system that connected campus and downtown until 1929, could return to Ames.

CyRide Director Bob Bourne outlined a preliminary plan for the construction of a new Dinkey rail-car system meant to breathe new life into an old ISU tradition. The original steam-powered Dinky was built in 1893.

“A new streetcar system would give Iowa State a unique and different feel,” he said.

At a meeting Tuesday, the Ames Transit Agency Board of Trustees put off committing $240,000 to a study that would investigate the viability of the rail-car system, until January because of budgetary constraints, however.

Although the new Dinkey, which Bourne said could be built by August of 2012, would not improve Ames’ public transportation, he said it could spur development in both the downtown and Campustown areas.

“You gain nothing in the transportation arena,” Bourne said, “The gain is in the development of the community.”

He said the early plan calls for lines connecting Central Campus, the Iowa State Center and downtown Ames, to replace the Orange CyRide bus route.

“Eight streetcars would take the place of eleven CyRide buses,” he said.

After listening to Bourne’s presentation, the board expressed concerns that the streetcar system, which would require the construction of vertical poles and wires every 100 feet along the routes, would become an eyesore for students and Ames residents.

“There’ll be all sorts of aesthetic issues with those poles,” said Warren Madden, vice president for business and finance and board member.

Sharon Wirth, board member and Ames City Councilwoman, said devoting money to the project in the midst of rising gas prices may be unwise.

“In the real world, with high gas prices and tuition hikes, it’s hard to say we should spend $240,000 on a rail-system study,” Wirth said.

The board decided to delay its decision until after it finalizes its budget, which will be done by Jan. 21.

Bourne said he agreed with the decision to wait, as spending the money now could lead to a service cut in the future.

Bourne said cities such as San Francisco, Philadelphia and Salt Lake City have experienced surges in economic growth after installing streetcars.

“Every city that has put these in place has gotten a lot of development in the way of new business and job opportunities,” Bourne said. “These lines are fixed for several decades, and that gives businesses a certain level of assurance that the infrastructure will always be there.”

In other business, the board approved the purchase of three new CyRide buses for the beginning of next school year.