Bill Jones, transit manager for Mercer County Regional Council of Governments, could soon be-gin feeling like a parent of two dozen 16-year-olds.

But Jones’ "kids" -- COG’s 24 member communities -- won’t be making pleas for keys to any old car. They’ll be asking to borrow COG’s new rubber-tired reproduction of a a turn-of-the-20th-century streetcar.

The 28-seat American Heritage Streetcar, made by Chance Coach Inc. of Wichita, Kan., cost $262,000.

The modified bus has mahogany side panels and seats, brass hand rails and leather handstraps. Modern amenities include heat and air-conditioning and air brakes and air suspension.

The U.S. Department of Transportation picked up 80 percent of the tab -- supplying $209,600 in grant money. PennDOT pitched in $43,675, and the remaining $8,725 came from the Shenango Val-ley Shuttle Service’s capital reserve account.

The streetcar is part of the shuttle service fleet, but Jones said it will be available for special events in each of the COG communities in the county.

COG representatives began clamoring for the streetcar Wednesday, even before Jones took them aboard it for a 30-foot tour. Greenville Mayor Clifford Harriger got the OK to borrow it for the bor-ough’s Memorial Day festivities, and Farrell Mayor William Morocco booked it for the city’s bicen-tennial celebration in mid-July.

More requests are sure to follow, and Jones said he and COG are happy to oblige.

"We want to show it off. We want to make it a real focal point, something that promotes COG, the Shenango Valley and the entire county," Jones said, adding that he thinks it will promote local tourism.

Real streetcars ran along tracks in the Shenango Valley until October 1939.