NEWPORT — The city of Newport is considering starting a trolley system to reduce congestion and make it easier for locals and visitors to get around – and folks will have a chance beginning Tuesday night to weigh in on what the route should look like.
Yachats’ new tourist trolley will begin a regular schedule June 11. Several cities on the Oregon coast already have trolleys. In June, the city of Yachats and the Yachats Chamber of Commerce will launch a Thursday-through-Sunday service using a $236,000 hybrid trolley.
After hearing from residents and tourists, Newport says it is also considering a trolley. The potential program would connect Newport’s key business districts, operate at a high frequency, and be free or low-cost to use, the city said in a news release.
There is no set route yet and community members are encouraged to share their ideas during an open house at the Performing Arts Center at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 2.
City employees and members of AKS Engineering will be at the open house, which will include a brief presentation, opportunities to tour the Yachats trolley, and a chance to provide feedback on destinations and possible stops.
Snacks will be provided. Those who wish to attend are encouraged but not required to RSVP at https://forms.gle/tfVV8CGB9mEzssSy5
If this encourages alternatives to driving and lessens some of the pushback to paid parking, I’m all for it!
We’re not San Francisco or Lisbon but tourists wait in line for hours to ride their cablecars, as a novelty. This could be a fun experience for families visiting, and for locals too. I’m interested to see how it works out in Yachats.
This won’t be a real trolley, anymore then the one in Yachats is. It’ll be a bus w/a “trolley” exterior. Not something I’m wlling to pay for (resident of Newport), not when the loop bus in Newport runs so infrequently & covers more of Newport then the tourist sections. Even better, how about expanding Newport’s sidewalk “network” so that people can walk safely (if not pleasantly, walking along or crossing the highway isn’t pleasant w/the noise, exhaust fumes) from tourist area to tourist area?
I think its a great idea. Residents need to decide on points of interest, such as Nye Beach Turnaround, Bay Front (perhaps 2 pick up points), etc. As I am fairly new to the area I would leave other suggestions to Newport locals. It would be good to plan a route that would pick up and drop off every hour. I am a retired city transit bus driver and am fully aware of how impatient the public can get if they have to wait too long.
Ridiculous idea. What they need to do is fix the paid parking problem in the city of Newport. It’s one thing to charge for parking and another to stick the credit card fees on the consumer. The city needs to eat the fees.
Please stop wasting money on people who don’t live here and start focusing on actual residents. Ever since I heard our city council voted themselves a $300 a month to cover such expenses as childcare (who are they kidding? Most of them are grandparents) I have been of the opinion it is time to remove them all. Lets not even discuss all the perks they get. Vote them out.
The idea is that if there is a monthly stipend to cover things like childcare then they can appeal to a more diverse set of candidates to run for the council, beyond “mostly grandparents.”
The trolleys I’ve experienced in small and large cities are very successful in cutting down on vehicle congestion and parking problems. Eases both for the locals. Btw locals use them also.
Well let’s just see what the prevailing mood is at the upcoming meeting and go from there
So tired of the city working for just one side of the people. Look at the amount of money spent to keep the ICE facility out, when the other side welcomed it to boost our economy. Start supporting both sides fairly. And retired residents should not have to pay for metered parking. Taxpayers will be paying for any type of shuttle … no matter the price to use it.
Excellent idea. I have mentioned this before. I’m on board for this. Yes!!
I’m concerned that adding a trolley will only add to our mental health crisis in Newport. If you drive down any part of 101 it is frequented by those yelling to themselves in the wind. Our public transit system should be abandoned altogether. It is a tax burden that never makes any money. Always operating at a loss. Add a trolley that won’t make our city money and promotes people experiencing mental crisis to interact with our city’s tourist population seems like bad business decision.