Red Cars Return--Trolleys Roll in Covina

Naomi Weidel, 87, was among the witnesses to the city’s foray into the world of public transit.

“Oh look, that’s the new red trolley!” she cried Thursday as the vehicle rolled past the Covina Beauty College on College Avenue.

Although Weidel wasn’t sure she would use the service, Tiffany Whiteleather, an 18-year-old student at the school, said she probably will.

“I would use it because it’s not expensive, especially with the price of gas these days,” she said.

The price is especially low--free, in fact--during the system’s first two weeks. After that it will cost 50 cents a ride. Transfers between the two trolleys, which started running Wednesday, will cost a dime.

Formally known as the Covina City Transit Trolley Service, it is the first public transportation system operated by Covina since the city was incorporated in 1901, city officials said. (However, the city does run a Dial-a-Ride program for resident senior citizens.)

Officials are promoting the trolleys as the “return of the Red Car,” a reference to the countywide rail system that was discontinued in the 1950s.

The trolleys-on-wheels carried about 100 riders on their first day of operation.

The city has budgeted $180,000 to run the trolleys this year, said Stan McCartney, finance director for Covina. Money for the project comes from Proposition A, the half-cent sales tax earmarked for local transportation.

The air-conditioned, handicapped-accessible trolleys will run from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.

“It was too expensive to run it six days a week,” City Councilman Gary Coffey said. “Not everyone can take the trolley to work, and we wanted to give those people a chance to use it on weekends. We thought people would do their shopping on Saturday, rather than on Monday. If this schedule doesn’t work, we’ll change it.”

There are two routes: The Red Route serves the west side of Covina, including the Sears Center on Azusa Avenue; the Blue Route serves the east side of town, including Charter Oak High School. Both routes include downtown Covina and the Eastland Center in West Covina.