A new mode of transportation hitting the streets of Gainesville is actually an old mode, as well. You can now navigate around the city by trolley. Gainesville’s blue and white trolleys have opoened with a soft launch, offering a lunchtime service.
The trolley officially opened for passengers on Monday, July 12, and could be seen circling the historic square – home to restaurants, craft beer providers, and retail shops.
The trolleys have been used in the past for special events, debuting them at last year’s Christmas parade.
According to Gainesville-Hall County Community Service Center Director, Phillippa Lewis Moss, the reception was positive. “It was a huge hit,” Moss said, speaking of their original unveiling. “People were really excited to see the trolleys.”
The interior features rows of wooden benches with brass poles with leather handles for standing passengers. A press release issued about the soft launch said that the trolleys have the capacity of transporting 24 passengers at a time. It can even accommodate passengers who use a wheelchair, as they are handicap accessible.
“We thought Gainesville-Hall County was a perfect place to have trolleys,” Moss said. “We think they’re fun and exciting.”
The lunchtime trolley, as it’s called, will travel along a set route from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
The route will take advantage of stops that are already in place. “The trolley will travel along Browns Bridge Road and Jesse Jewell Parkway picking up passengers at bus stops previously reserved for Gainesville Connection,” Moss said. “These signs will be rebranded over the next few weeks.”
The lunchtime trolley is free to use, and city officials expect the annual service to be offered exclusively during the spring and summer months.
“In the midst of a busy workday, the trolley is a fun way to break up the day and grab a bite to eat,” Moss said. “The classic look of the trolley is a nod to a period (the late 1800s and early 1900s) when trolleys were all the rage across the country.”
Though the city purchased two trolleys, only one will make the lunchtime rounds. In 2020, Gainesville received federal funding to help city officials advance transit system offerings.
“At this time, only one trolley will operate during the lunch break,” Moss said. “You’ll also see them during special events such as the upcoming Olympic Celebration in August at Lake Lanier Olympic Park.”
To learn more, visit gainesville.org and/or follow @GainesvilleGeorgiaGovernment on Facebook.
