New York City's famed subway system has been in operation since 1904. The Chicago Transit Authority's elevated line, known as the "L," wraps more than 100 miles around the Windy City. The cable cars are as synonymous with San Francisco as the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz.

While no one's aiming to create a cultural icon, local officials are sowing the seeds for a light rail system for north Manatee that would transport commuters between the county's northeast corner and the downtown corridors of Palmetto and Bradenton.

About 44,000 people live in Manatee County north of the Manatee River. But one private consultant projects the area will be home to as many as 196,000 residents by 2030.

Helping advance the light rail concept is county Commission Chairman Joe McClash, who says mass transit in that area could help offset the need for some expensive roads in the future.

Earlier this month, McClash directed county staff to provide a hypothetical light rail plan by sometime in January.

"North (Manatee) River presents a challenge to meet our transportation needs," McClash told the Bradenton Herald last week. "We need to look for other ways to go from one place to another without using an automobile. North county has a perfect opportunity to plan for mass transit to move people as opposed to using a car."