The City is looking to replace the 1999 model trolley with a newer version, according to Owensboro Transit System Manager Pamela Canary.
Canary said the current trolley has become obsolete with difficulty getting parts, adding that its reliability has deteriorated. She said OTS is seeking to use CARES Act funding to replace the vehicle.
“We’re trying to make the best use of those funds,” she said, noting it was not a funding avenue that could have expected in the past.
Canary said the new trolley they are looking for would have a low floor and accessibility ramp instead of the high floor and lift the current trolley utilizes. By utilizing a ramp, Canary said they can improve accessibility accommodations while also shortening route times due to shorter stops.
“It’s much easier, much quicker. If we have someone that might be slightly mobility impaired, we can put the ramp out easily for them to walk up. For ADA, it’s a much better apparatus than the lift,” she said.
While the trolley would be new, Canary said they still want the design to keep the nostalgia of the current trolley — including the cupola roof and wooden seats.
Canary said the trolley typically services approximately 300 riders Monday-Saturday, adding it fills up during special events such as ROMP.
“During a week of ROMP, we had 834 riders just on Wednesday through Saturday,” Canary said. “…It was standing room only.”
For more information about hours and stops for the trolley, click here.
