BOISE -- If you're looking for an easier way to get around downtown Boise, the city says it's coming.
They've been working on a plan for a circulator for several years, and now they're ready for the public to help narrow down which routes and destinations would be most popular.
Back in 2012, the city received a federal grant for $375,000 to look at the options.
Several local agencies pitched in funds, as well to study the best way to transport people around town.
The city of Boise says for years they've known a major need is a better way for people to get around downtown.
"Downtown Boise is a major destination, so once people get down here now we have to figure out how to move them around," said Boise's assistant city engineer Jim Pardy.
Which is why the city looked to the public for ideas back in January.
They say feedback showed the most popular destinations were Boise State University, the Boise Airport and St. Luke's.
Now, they're narrowing five zones and dozens of routes down to about five or ten that citizens would use most.
Pardy says with the new transit system under construction and Boise seeing major growth, now is the time to make plans for a circulator.
"There's a lot going on downtown right now, and it's important the circulator be discussed from the same context as - we're looking at bike routes and changing two ways to one ways, and we're seeing the Simplot development and Boise State continue to expand," said Pardy.
But it's an idea that had been tried before without success.
Back in 2009, the mayor pushed a street car project, taking citizens through downtown from east to west.
The city says the public complained that the plan wasn't quite what residents were looking for, and wanted more say in where the routes would run.
"This analysis we're doing right now is what most folks that was the missing piece, and many people felt like we kind of missed that boat, we didn't do the analysis," said Pardy.
Once the routes are finalized, then they will look into whether they will use a fixed rail or rubber tire system.
They will also look into environmental impact, ridership, and, of course, cost.
They are hoping to have all the research done by early 2015.
The city is hoping downtown business owners and residents will weigh in on the plan.
There will be a chance to you to look over the routes and give feedback this Wednesday and Thursday.
Those workshops will be held at the Rose Room in downtown Boise from 4 p.m. 6 p.m.
