NEW ORLEANS, April 19 (UPI) -- Streetcars are rolling down New Orlean's Canal Street for the first time in 40 years.
Sunday's return of the streetcars was the result of a $160 million project with funds provided by the federal government and the city, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported.
Oilman Pat Taylor donated $7 million to erect the power poles.
The Canal Street cars are air-conditioned, modern versions of the older streetcars more familiar on St. Charles St. in the Crescent City.
The new route officially opened at 3 a.m. Sunday and about 30,000 people rode the cars on the first day, officials said.
Errol Laborde, a New Orleans author, told the Times-Picayune it was ironic that the city is now reviving the line that was shut down 40 years ago.
"Back then, nobody was talking about pollution and congestion and light rail," he said.
