May 21st, 2008
Newark Trolley
The Newark Trolley is now a familiar and friendly sight in our
downtown. However, it only has an average of 30 riders each day.
The trolley currently costs 25 cents to ride. This was an
introductory promotional fare and (except for transfers, etc.) and it
will be raised to $1.15 unless the City of Newark chooses to subsidize
the difference.
The trolley currently runs from 8:50 AM to 4:38PM, Monday through
Friday. I believe this excludes people who may need to get to work at
9 AM or who leave work at 5 pm. I would also like to see the
trolley’s timing amended to allow for evening travel and for weekend
visitors to downtown.
Also, under DART policy, the trolley only picks up and drops off
riders at its designated stops. I believe the trolley would be much
more effective if it allowed demand responsive patron access along its
route, so that within reason people could flag the trolley down or get
off at a convenient location.
Do you use the trolley? If not, are there changes that would make you
want to use it? Is this something you feel the city should subsidize?
What changes to the service would you like to see?
For more information on the current trolley service, click this link.
7 comments ↓
I feel the trolley would be better utilized if it ran for extended hours and on the weekends. It is nice to see it running and I think it brings a sort of charm to the city but it’s not out on the weekends when people are visiting so I think it is missing a vital audience. I also think it’s hard for the trolley to compete with the Unicity bus which doesn’t charge a fare and is more likely to be ridden by locals who know it exists.
Great idea!
Very good idea, Ezra.
To me the bus isn’t about perceptions but rather is about livelihoods.
How about some service down Elkton road to the Suburban shopping center on the west side of town? What about service to the age-restricted community going in on the old Wilson farm off of Casho Mill Road?
The Newark Trolley is a fine idea. I’ve used it a couple of times myself to get to work when it’s too miserable outside to bike. However, to be a useful, reliable service, the hours of operation need to be extended. At present, riding it means I am 20 minutes late for work and have to leave nearly a half hour early… not exactly sustainable. The trolley needs to either target workday commutes or afternoon/evening shopping and leisure activities. The current schedule of just before 9 a.m. to roughly 4:30 does neither. It’s a wonderul little vehicle. Very clean, even charming, but it’s unlikely to maintain a following with the current level of service. I would also favor allowing riders to flag down the trolley (with the judgment of if it is safe to stop and do so entirely up to the driver in each individual case). In my humble opinion, rubber-tired vehicles that board and disembark passengers at set locations and times are called buses, regardless of how they’re painted. A few trolley-stop signs may go a long way too. At present, the only marker is the numerical DART route number, unlikely to mean much anyone not already very familiar with public transit in Delaware. I hope the city chooses to retain, improve, and continue to subsidize the fare box. The loop is too short to warrant a $1.25 fare. Lastly, it should have a bike rack. I know this has been an issue with the turning radius of larger vehicles, but I can’t see how it could be a problem on the trolley.
I think the trolley does add charm, but I don’t thnk the schedule is meeting the people’s needs. I actually do not know the route, but I do not htink it should travel the same route as the bus. I agree with the person about going to Suburban Shopping Center, picking up at senior living facilities (Fountainview, Marrows Court, Southridge, Twin Lakes).. I think it should not run Mon and Tues and then extend into the weekend and a little later and earlier each day. I also think it would be great to use it to take people to football games. Maybe the University might even be willing to underwrite it. Or tie it into lunch at a Main Street restaurant and then get a ride to the game. It could also be used for Newark High Football games, since parking is a problem.
The idea of a trolley is great, now let’s do some out of the box thinking and make it a success.
Thank you everyone for the comments thus far.
I wanted to clarify one comment upon further investigation -
Mike Fortner of the City of Newark’s Planning Department called DART, and a representive said that all DART Buses, including Trolleys, are equiped with a bicycle rack that can carry two bicycles.
I agree with many of the comments above. I would use the trolly very often if it came up New London Road to Superfresh and also went to Surburban Plaza to Acme. For me to catch it and use it (and for my neighbors >50 who would) we have to walk into town or drive. Since Northgate Commons is just across from the UD Laird Campus it makes sense to at least make that loop up to Superfresh for the “town folk”. If it ran to Surburban Plaza up Elkton Road as well, we’d be just about covering everyone who lives in the “city” of Newark I think. I love the idea, also, of being able to flag it down. Many over-50’s who may be walking may find it too hot or the weather changes and they need the lift. The goal is to stop people from driving into town. I personally don’t go into town as often because I have to drive and pay to park or walk and not carry back as much as I need. I also don’t want to bother with the student class changes during school sessions. I go to other merchants outside Newark when I’d rather shop in town and support those merchants.
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