The first of five new Island trolleys to replace the current aging fleet was delivered to the Manatee County Area Transit garage Aug. 3, but that trolley won’t go into service Aug. 8 as Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce officials hoped.
MCAT officials said last week the new trolley needs some preparation and must pass state and MCAT inspections before it can begin service. Some advertising also needs to be installed on the trolley.
MCAT superintendent Mark Betti said the original Aug. 8 date for the trolley to begin service was optimistic.
All required inspections should be completed by next week and the advertising artwork on the trolley will be added.
Betti said he anticipated the trolley would be in service within two weeks, possibly sooner.
The second trolley is expected to arrive Aug. 15 and undergo the same procedures, he said. It could be available for the route by Sept. 1 or sooner, Betti noted.
Each trolley is being custom-made to specifications that will allow the trolleys to operate better in the sun, sand and sea-salt conditions found on Anna Maria Island, Betti said.
Each trolley is customized and completed in California, then shipped to MCAT’s inspection yard on 26th Avenue East for final modifications, Betti said.
With the first new trolley due to begin service soon, chamber board member David Teitelbaum, who is coordinating trolley ad sales, said about 30 inside spaces remain. All exterior slots have been contracted to advertisers.
The revenue generated by the ad sales is used to offset the operating costs of the trolleys and keep the trolley fare-free.
Two years ago, Manatee County administrator Ed Hunzeker proposed a passenger fare for the trolley to help with the estimated $250,000 annual maintenance cost, but agreed to hold off implementation of the fee to determine if Teitelbaum and the chamber’s ad sales effort would bring in sufficient revenue.
In addition, each Island city budgets funding for the trolley operation.
The fare-free Island trolley began operating in March 2002 under a federal grant that fully paid for the trolleys.
Since then, other grants and funding sources have kept the trolley fare-free.
Having a fare-free trolley to move people around the Island is one of the major selling points for the Island as a vacation destination, Island tourism officials have said.
The trolley annually carries about 325,000-350,000 passengers, with peak ridership from February through April.