Students studying the idea of constructing a streetcar or trolley system in Ames are looking to a historic Ames train known as the Dinkey for ideas.

Beginning in 1891, the Dinkey — a small steam engine train — carried passengers between downtown Ames and the ISU campus. Before the turn of the century, the Dinkey provided off-campus students a way to get to class quickly, said Paul Popelka, lecturer in community and regional planning.

The train was later replaced by an electric streetcar before the line was abandoned completely with the popularization of automobiles.

A fixed rail system would serve the community not only by providing more convenient transportation, but also by bridging the gap between ISU students and the Ames residents by promoting interaction between the groups, said Tony Borich, senior in community and regional planning.

It would also encourage residents to patronize downtown businesses. The proposed transit system would cover areas that are inconvenient and time-consuming to reach via CyRide, Borich said.

“Rail systems usually spur development,” said Bob Bourne, transportation director for CyRide. “Bus routes can change at any time, but once a rail system is down, it’s permanent.”

Borich said he has made an extensive study of inter-city rail systems. He began work on the project as part of his independent study honors class.

“Something like this would benefit the university because it would really set Iowa State apart from other universities in the Midwest,” he said. “It would be a unique asset that would really benefit Ames.”

Borich’s research on the project led him to study trolley and streetcar systems in other cities. Last semester, he traveled to Portland, Ore., in order to study the city’s downtown streetcar system on a grant from the ISU Foundation. He then created a case study of the possibility of implementing such a system in Ames.

Other groups have taken up the idea of a more efficient method of connecting the campus to the downtown area. The fall section of Urban Design and Planning Practice, taught by Popelka, studied rail-based mass transit systems within communities and the possibility of adopting such a system in Ames.

“The project actually started with Tony. It came up and it was a good project because it was a real project with real people involved,” Popelka said. “We did a pretty complete study of reconnecting downtown and campus.”

One of the biggest issues the class tackled was to find the best method of connecting the campus to the downtown area. The class proposed three different transportation systems: bus trolleys, streetcars and light rail systems. Light rail systems are very similar to traditional streetcars, but have a more modern design. The class presented each of these systems as possibilities rather than advocating one system over the other, he said.

The class culminated in a public forum on the possibility of a rail system in Ames presented by the students with 30 to 40 members of the community in attendance. The presentation seemed to be well-received, Popelka said. A few of the students have volunteered to continue advocating the proposed rail system, and Popelka says he would like to continue to be associated with the project as well.

“I think the next step is to create some widespread community support for this idea. We also need to get the major players like the ISU administration, GSB and the City of Ames involved,” Bourne said.

The fixed rail transit system has not been proposed to the City Council yet, but the council is aware of the project, he said. Additional feasibility studies will be conducted, and the project could be brought before the council in about six months, he said.

Costs for the rail system are still being figured out, he said. No concrete estimates could be released at the moment.

“I think it’s a good project and there’s a potential for doing something pretty unique for Ames,” Bourne said.

Though the proposed project would have an obvious impact on CyRide, the relationship that the bus system would have to the rail system is still unknown. It’s very likely that CyRide would be involved in making the application for grant funds from the government, he said. The rail system would not compete with CyRide, but would instead replace some of the services it offers.

The Dinkey

• The Dinkey was a steam engine that had routes between downtown Ames and Iowa State beginning July 4, 1881.

• The fare was 5 cents each way and ran every two hours from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

• The Dinkey ran until 1907 when it was replaced by an electric streetcar.

• It was dismantled and used for parts during World War II.

— http://www.lib.iastate.edu/spcl/exhibits/buildings/dinkey.html