News 12 First at Five, May 14, 2008

AUGUSTA, Ga.---It seems like every week we're telling you about a new study being done to look at bringing growth to Augusta. There were at least 4 projects in just the last year. School is almost out, but the city of Augusta is spending a lot of time and money studying.

"It's just a process that you have to go through. You don't just build it, and they will come. You have to look and see if the market will bear it," said Margaret Woodard who is executive director of the Downtown Development Authority."

There are those who are convinced it didn't take a rocket scientist to predict flooding Ellis Street with water would cost millions...$31 million dollars just to dig up and relocate sewage lines.

"We've spent a lot of money on studies. The question really becomes whether a study was necessary," said Commissioner Alvin Mason.

Remember the drag strip idea? That study cost $25,000. Former commissioner Andy Cheek called for a refund. He said your money was wasted on a report filled with what he called factual errors.

"It's like any citizen would be if they go out and buy a meal at a restaurant if it's of poor quality you shouldn't have to pay for that," said Cheek. That is a pretty good sign that the drag strip idea is dead...right? "No, it's not dead at all," said Commissioner Mason.

He's the new guy in town and just when you thought the drag strip had lost traction the commissioner says he likes the odds. "Any time you talking about 25 to 30 million dollars in revenue for a city we must take it on because we're hurting for dollars," said Mason.

This comes as the city looks for another $40,000 to study bringing a trolley line back downtown.

"I think it's kind of a renaissance. We're bringing the downtown back...so bring the historic trolley back," said Woodard.

The trolley would run on battery power. It's being modeled after similar projects in places like Charlotte. The trolley will follow a track costing 13 million dollars a mile for a four mile route. That's over 50-million bucks. The proposal includes four separate trolley cars.

The route would take 10 minutes from beginning to end. Supporters say the biggest selling point of the trolley line is a stop that's only one block away from the proposed new stadium complex and TEE center that is planned for Reynolds Street.

"This connects everything. This also alleviates some of the parking challenges downtown if we would get the employees and visitors to park on the outskirts."

Commissioner Mason says he will bring the drag strip back before the commission this summer. The issue was location and noise. He's suggesting a possible site near the airport.

The Ellis Street Option is not all dried up either. We spoke with Andy Cheek who says he's taking the plan to Augusta tomorrow...And looking at getting it on the next SPLOST.