PLACENTIA : Budget Crunch Puts Brakes on Trolley

After three years of ferrying riders to businesses, shops, parks and City Hall, the city’s red trolley made its last run Tuesday.

The free service fell victim to budget cuts, and with the start of the new fiscal year today, the trolley will be stored in a maintenance yard.

Joel Cardenas drove the trolley on its last afternoon of service. The vehicle’s 60 riders were a mix of mothers with young children, school-age youngsters and senior citizens--typical of a summer day.

“Most of the riders knew today was the last day, and the regular riders said they were going to miss the trolley,” Cardenas said.

Signs have been posted for several weeks warning of the cessation of service.

The trolley operated from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday. Its route was a 17-mile loop that was covered about six times a day, said Gary Bunnell, the city’s vehicle maintenance supervisor.

Among the 30 trolley stops were ones at businesses, shopping centers, medical offices, parks and City Hall.

“Our target (rider) was the senior citizen and others who don’t drive,” Bunnell said.

City Administrator Robert D’Amato said the trolley was started to provide a service for those who don’t drive and to encourage residents to patronize city businesses.

The response from businesses near trolley stops was positive, D’Amato said.

“Business owners said the trolley brought more people to the area,” he said. “They didn’t want to see it stopped.”

The city bought the trolley in 1989 for $73,000. Operating costs and driver salaries ran about $24,000 a year.

D’Amato said the city decided not to begin charging for the rides, because the cost of collecting and monitoring fares was prohibitive. He added that re-establishing trolley service is not a top priority if the budget picture improves, but that the city will keep its options open and store the trolley until further notice.