Transit Director Ken Smith told council Monday that the rainy spring meant a slow time for trolley riders, but by mid-June ridership was better, and July was the best July in ten years. August was very good, and “September is booming also,” he said.
This year Transit upgraded the trolley barn and added bike racks to trolleys, and Smith said next year he will be requesting funds for solar panels.
Another improvement has been installing a QR code at trolley stops which leads folks with a smart phone to a site where they can see with five-second updates where trolleys are and when to expect them. He said the QR code has been a big hit with visitors, and when they use it he can see where they are from, which is useful information.
Smith reported that whereas in 2016 his demand-response ridership went down, this year he had to add another driver, and has three vans out all day. He said he might even need another van.
Smith pointed out that weekday ridership is certainly less than weekends, but comprises 30-40 percent of trolley revenue. One tourist-lodging owner buys trolley tickets and gives them to guests, which works as a partial solution to the parking problem downtown.
He also mentioned that a federal program begins in October in which drivers will have to be tested for opioids.