DENVER -- San Francisco-style streetcars could be coming to Denver in the next decade.

City of Denver officials hosted a public meeting Thursday to discuss the feasibility of replacing some bus lines with streetcars along the Colfax Ave. corridor. The plan could cost in the range of $110 million.

But city council president Jeanne Robb, who spearheaded the project, said a streetcar would be cheaper to operate than some bus lines and could revitalize parts of the Colfax corridor, saving the city of Denver money and potentially generating new revenue.

“I think we’re learning that a streetcar on Colfax is feasible,” she said.

One plan would run a streetcar line from downtown Denver to Quebec Street, accommodating up to 36,000 passengers.

Robb said money for the project would have to come from a combination of federal, state and local dollars. Transportation consultants commissioned to analyze the plan’s feasibility suggested a number of revenue streams to generate dollars, from increased sales or property taxes, to a hike in parking rates or vehicle registration fees.

Streetcar operating costs could be supplemented by advertisements or sponsorships on the cars themselves and at stations.

Department of Public Works officials said studies showed streetcars could reduce congestion on Colfax, accommodating twice the riders than some regular bus lines can.

“RTD right now is running so much transit along the corridor that it’s difficult to just add another bus and increase the capacity given the demand that’s out there,” said public works planning director Crissy Fanganello. “The streetcars have more capacity on them than regular city buses.”

Though some Colfax corridor residents fretted about the cost of the plan, many were optimistic about its potential.

“I think the economy will come back,” said Rosalind Dudden, who has lived along the Colfax corridor for 35 years. “I think we have to have more public transportation.”