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Forum presents the past and future of the Boise trolley
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The 2007-08 Fettuccine Forum season came to an end Thursday, May 1. Historian Barbara Bauer presented “Once Upon the Trolley: Boise’s Electric Road.” The audience took a trip down Boise’s memory lane while enjoying lemon garlic fettuccine. The topics of discussion were the rise and fall of Boise’s electric road and the possibility of bringing it back.
“The trolley left a legacy,” Bauer said. “It’s a form of transportation that should be considered as our community continues to grow.”
High gas prices should be reason enough to bring the trolley back, Bauer emphasized. In the late 1800s, Boise grew from a population of 2,000 to 4,000 people within months. The trolley was a big part of the growth and development in Boise. Bauer feels that as we look into developing our communities affordably, faster and more environmentally-friendly transportation needs to be taken into consideration. City Council has begun to consider this form of public transportation, but the results depend on funding and support from community members.
“If we do [bring the trolley back] we need support from property owners, people of Boise and legislators,” Boise City Council member Elaine Glegg said. “I would rather see this happen sooner rather than later.”
The forum will reconvene in the fall, when the setting will be slightly different. Boise State history professor Todd Shallat, the major force behind the forum, will be absent. After years of inactivity in the forum, Boise Mayor Dave Bieter asked Shallat to revive the program.
Shallat said he is now ready for someone else to take charge.
A department established by the city will take over the forum. Although he won’t be directly involved, Shallat will be around to offer any support it might need.
“The trick is community. Getting people involved and liking it,” Shallat said.
Boise State will still be involved to a certain degree but will hand programs over to the city after development.
“As we become a bigger city, this forum will become the city’s and the council will be in charge of doing it. It’s now up to the citizens to take over,” Shallat said.
The forum will start up again in September with more speakers, topics and famous fettuccine.
SONIA TREVIZO
News Writer
