Trolley rolls to call-only service

Thursday, 22 September 2005

By BRANDI BARHITE
brandibarhite@sanduskyregister.com

SANDUSKY - Ridership on the Sandusky Main Street Trolley was down so significantly this summer, the green line will become an on-call service.

The red line route that toured downtown Sandusky gave 2,429 rides this summer, a 25 percent decrease from 3,326 rides in 2004. The green line, which took guests from local hotels to downtown, was at 718, down from 1,655 in 2004, or 55 percent. The trolley ended its summer season Sept. 3.

Sandusky Public Transit Administrator Rosanne Bodner said at Wednesday's press conference the city expected ridership to dip on the green line due to charging $1 per person, per boarding.

However, the city doesn't know why ridership on the red line took a dive unless the novelty of the trolley wore off after its first year, she said.

Bodner said the city couldn't justify keeping the green line for 718 rides, although he expects hotel guests to call for pickup through the Sandusky Transit System public dispatch ride system, which runs the trolley.

The trolley used for the green line will be available for charter trips and non-profit events. A notice of 10 days will be requested so a contract can be determined, Bodner said.

The red line will continue to give rides around downtown next summer. Days and hours still have to be determined.

Bodner said it cost about $45,000 to run the trolley this summer, but because the hours were shortened from the first year, the higher gas prices didn't affect the trolley budget.

The trolley is paid for through public transit funding and the Sandusky Main Street Association.

Bodner said the decreased ridership won't affect the grant money received because STS numbers are up.

The trolley began charging for the green line because people, many of them Cedar Point employees, were using the trolley to go to the mall and grocery store. The route was intended to bring tourists to downtown.

Bodner said SMSA paid for hotel guests to continue to use the green line for free.

FunCoast.com is your online guide to summer fun for Cedar Point, the LakeErie Islands and Sandusky area. Our site offers up-to-date information on area attractions, restaurants, hotels, gasoline prices, ferry schedules, swimming, birding and fishing, along with a complete listing of events happening in the Sandusky/Cedar Point area. To use our Webcam and zoom in on Cedar Point's rollercoasters, go to http://funcam.funcoast.com

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