Discussions are underway over plans to create a new trackless tram network in Liverpool city centre.
Colin Sinclair, the boss of Liverpool's Knowledge Quarter the idea for a new rapid transit system to link up the universities, hospitals and Knowledge Quarter with the city centre is now 'back on track'.
There has been discussion about a system like this for years, but Mr Sinclair said there is now optimism a new form of public transport can be created in the city.
Mr Sinclair said the idea proposed would be for a trackless tram that would run on its own section of highway.
It would potentially run from Lime Street, past the Liverpool Central area and up Brownlow Hill to serve the city's main university campuses.
From there, the route would head on to the new Paddington Village development - which includes the recently opened Spine building - before serving the Royal Liverpool and Clatterbridge hospitals.
The proposed route would then come back down London Road to the St George's Hall and Lime Street area to complete the loop.
Mr Sinclair said there is a suggested working title of 'Lime Line' for the network because of the connection with Lime Street and the wider green credentials of the plan.
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He said he and his colleagues have been in talks with Merseytravel and there is serious optimism about the idea all round.
He said: "The idea is back on track, to pardon the pun.
"There is a lot of support from the city region and from Merseytravel to see what we can do and how we can bid in to government to create a rapid transit system.
"They've taken our original proposals and are looking at them seriously now.
"Our idea was for a trackless tram, it's quite a simple idea.
"It's great to see big investment in electric buses but buses are not everyone's mode of transport and can be a bit confusing.
"We suggested the idea of Lime Line because its green, environmental and it would connect Lime Street with the rest of the Knowledge Quarter.
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"The beauty of a trackless tram running on its own bit of highway means it won't get stuck in traffic and it also becomes a great cycle lane when the tram isn't running.
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"It's like a guided roadway, there are lots of examples of this and its actually quite a simple and affordable way of doing things because there's no capital investment.
"I think this could be quite easy to do and Merseytravel are keen to take it forward - so it's back on track and we're really optimistic."
The Knowledge Quarter team have previously talked about creating a new public square outside the Adelphi Hotel that could link to the proposed Lime Line system.
The overriding idea is to link the city centre to Liverpool's burgeoning knowledge and science hubs that involve the universities, hospitals and new Paddington Village development.