Galveston, TX — Trolley Extension

Rail Transit Online, July 2004

Construction is underway on the first $4.5-million phase of an extension to the island-city’s diesel-electric trolley line that will run from The Strand via Market and Sixth streets to Stewart Beach.  The second segment, costing $6.5 million, will loop the tracks from the beach along Fourth and Market streets back to The Strand.  Financing came from the federal and state governments plus a $240,000 contribution from the University of Texas Medical School, which will be served by the extension.  Phase one is expected to be completed in December but work on the final section hasn’t been scheduled.  Transit officials hope to lure more residents to the replica antique trolleys; currently ridership is 98 percent tourists.  Once the project is complete, operating hours will be expanded and one additional car will be acquired, bringing the fleet to five.  The initial 5.2-mi (8.3 km) line crossing the island was opened in 1988.  A loop through The Strand, a popular shopping area, was expanded in 1995.