MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A trolley bus is back on the road again, rolling down Main Street in downtown Memphis.
However, this isn’t your typical trolley that runs on the tracks; instead, these have rubber wheels.
Multiple downtown business owners told WREG that the trolleys are a welcome sign, especially with tourist season upon us.
“I was hoping I would get some form of trolley back by Independence Day and [it] looks like we’re there,” Mark Parsell said.
The original, steel-wheeled trolleys were pulled off the tracks last summer as MATA cited major budget problems, coupled with the need for pricey upgrades to cars.
There’s since been a push to bring back the rubber-wheeled trolleys that operated several years ago.
Mark Parsell with South Main Sounds has been closely following along.
“I was happy to see them running on a test last week,” Parsell said. “I ran up like a school kid and asked what the story was and they said they would be up and running today.”
People WREG talked to were glad to see the return.
“I think its a cool touch for downtown,” Caroline Grace said.
“I feel like it’s a miracle. I was actually kind of sad, you know, that they stopped running,” Eric Brown said. “A lot of people aren’t able to walk, a lot of people don’t like to walk. So, the trolley was a big help for this long strip, for sure.”
For now, MATA said only one trolley bus will be running along Main Street, providing transportation to shops, restaurants and attractions for only $1.
“Even if it’s just a trolley bus, we’ll take it,” Parsell said. “I think it’s very important right now to capitalize on the tourist season and get these things going and we all as locals need to be supportive.”
Eventually, more trolley buses are expected to also hit the road, but a timeline for when that will happen has not been provided.