Officials say recent events impacting local gasoline supplies helped shed light on the real need for efficient and attractive public transportation choices.
The city is still waiting on a funding announcement from the federal government, but Ottawa’s mayor said he has been assured it will be announced before the end of May.
Modell was instrumental in growing the system from 17 buses and 30 employees to operating on 10 routes with 79 buses, 5 trolleys and more than 185 employees.
The city had hoped to award the contract earlier this year, but the two bids received exceeded the city’s budget for construction work — one by more than 30% and one by nearly 40% — before the city found a firm that could meet its budget.
Many Savannah residents argued the one-square-mile historic district is becoming too congested with tour vehicles.
The members in favor of the block prefer a broad public vote in November asking residents to help pay for light rail in Vancouver.
The streetcar line is expected to be completed by 2015.