SEATTLE - Seattle's new South Lake Union Streetcar made its first test run Monday.

With Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels at the helm, the streetcar started rolling smoothly and cruised down the track -- a trip that lasted a whole 30 seconds and covered about 200 feet.

The test was mostly to show off the new streetcar, which will start making dozens of test runs over the next several weeks.

It's the first stage in what Seattle hopes will be an entire network of streetcar routes. And streetcars have proven they draw riders -- when they started the streetcar up in downtown Tacoma, ridership increased three times compared to the same bus route.

Why?

"It's a little more comfortable," said project manager Ethan Melone. "Extra suspension, quiet, and people always have had a romance with trains...and people just enjoy them."

But is it worth the price tag? The streetcar, which should be up and running in December, comes with a $50 million cost. That averages out to about $8 million a city block just to build it.

For that hefty price, riders get a street car that runs a little more than a mile from South Lake Union's neighborhood to Downtown Seattle's Westlake.

"It's a step for transportation in Seattle," said Melone.

But Seattle City Councilman Nick Licata says money spent on the streetcar is money not spent for transit in other neighborhoods.

"It's a question of fairness," Licata said. "The city could use improved bus service. The (money) going to pay for that - instead, a portion of it will be going to this one project."

Mayor Nickels insists the streetcar will connect people with future jobs, housing and other transit.

But it will present some unique changes to the area. For instance, the city warns about parking along the streetcar's route, and to be careful to park far enough away so you don't open your car door right into an oncoming streetcar.

"I think over time people will see it as part of the urban landscape and people will take care around it," Nickels said.

As for the construction cost, South Lake Union property owners -- Paul Allen included -- paid half, or $25 million. The government kicked in the rest.

Now, the city is counting on sponsors and about 330,000 riders in the first year to operate it. The fare will be $1.50.

As for the old waterfront trolley, which is on temporary hiatus while the city awaits to build the new service barn, service will be restored at some point, and in fact, there's talk of expanding it.

However, developers say they are waiting to find out what happens with the Alaskan Way Viaduct before deciding when to put the trolley back in service.