Wilson
06-30-2007, 09:25 PM
We saw the signs for the trolleys while walking around Town Green Park last weekend. I'm glad to know it's really going to happen and I hope that we can see expansion to the Village Centers at some point in the future.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/woodlands/news/4924992.html
June 27, 2007, 12:59PM
Town Center trolleys to debut in The Woodlands
New transit option for residents in business district
By LAURA ISENSEE
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
After more than two years of anticipation, trolleys will hit the road in Town Center next week.
A new six-month service agreement with the Brazos Transit District will have the trolleys ready to roll during the holiday week, starting July Fourth.
At its meeting Wednesday, the Town Center Improvement District approved the temporary service agreement for the transit district to operate the four Town Center trolleys. The two governmental districts plan to set up an interlocal agreement in the future.
The trolleys will debut in the South County Fourth of July Parade in the morning and run routes during the holiday activities at the Red, Hot and Blue Festival, said Steve Sumner, vice president of operations and public safety for the Town Center Improvement District.
The release of federal funding proved to be the main roadblock for the launch of the propane-fueled trolleys, Sumner said.
The trolleys' grand debut was first announced for December 2004 as part of The Woodlands' 30th anniversary celebrations.
Funds had been earmarked for the project, but their release delayed the pilot program's official launch, Sumner said.
He said the funds recently were funneled to the Houston-Galveston Area Council, which then sends the downtown district the money, meant to curb congestion and improve air quality.
Hit the road
While the trolleys have made an appearance at special events in Town Center, they have waited, parked in the The Woodlands Park & Ride lots.
Once launched, the Town Center's four custom-made trolleys will make a two-way loop in the downtown area.
Stops will include Anadarko, the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, Town Green Park, Market Street and The Woodlands Mall.
Initially, the trolleys will stop for visitors who flag them down, Sumner said.
With 35 seats apiece, the classic green trolleys will run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. Riders are expected to include businesspeople, visitors at events and residents.
Federal funding
TCID applied and was awarded a $1.1 million federal matching grant to operate the trolleys over a three-year period, Sumner said.
"We established ourselves as a governmental agency that can receive federal funding for transportation, which is a big step," Sumner said.
The district will contribute $195,000 from its budget and receive another $195,000 in federal funds annually for the new rubber-wheeled transportation for the first two years of the pilot program.
If ridership is appropriate, the grant will be extended a third year and the program could become permanent, Sumner said.
He said he did not have projections for ridership or the benchmark needed to continue the pilot program in the future.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/woodlands/news/4924992.html
June 27, 2007, 12:59PM
Town Center trolleys to debut in The Woodlands
New transit option for residents in business district
By LAURA ISENSEE
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
After more than two years of anticipation, trolleys will hit the road in Town Center next week.
A new six-month service agreement with the Brazos Transit District will have the trolleys ready to roll during the holiday week, starting July Fourth.
At its meeting Wednesday, the Town Center Improvement District approved the temporary service agreement for the transit district to operate the four Town Center trolleys. The two governmental districts plan to set up an interlocal agreement in the future.
The trolleys will debut in the South County Fourth of July Parade in the morning and run routes during the holiday activities at the Red, Hot and Blue Festival, said Steve Sumner, vice president of operations and public safety for the Town Center Improvement District.
The release of federal funding proved to be the main roadblock for the launch of the propane-fueled trolleys, Sumner said.
The trolleys' grand debut was first announced for December 2004 as part of The Woodlands' 30th anniversary celebrations.
Funds had been earmarked for the project, but their release delayed the pilot program's official launch, Sumner said.
He said the funds recently were funneled to the Houston-Galveston Area Council, which then sends the downtown district the money, meant to curb congestion and improve air quality.
Hit the road
While the trolleys have made an appearance at special events in Town Center, they have waited, parked in the The Woodlands Park & Ride lots.
Once launched, the Town Center's four custom-made trolleys will make a two-way loop in the downtown area.
Stops will include Anadarko, the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, Town Green Park, Market Street and The Woodlands Mall.
Initially, the trolleys will stop for visitors who flag them down, Sumner said.
With 35 seats apiece, the classic green trolleys will run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. Riders are expected to include businesspeople, visitors at events and residents.
Federal funding
TCID applied and was awarded a $1.1 million federal matching grant to operate the trolleys over a three-year period, Sumner said.
"We established ourselves as a governmental agency that can receive federal funding for transportation, which is a big step," Sumner said.
The district will contribute $195,000 from its budget and receive another $195,000 in federal funds annually for the new rubber-wheeled transportation for the first two years of the pilot program.
If ridership is appropriate, the grant will be extended a third year and the program could become permanent, Sumner said.
He said he did not have projections for ridership or the benchmark needed to continue the pilot program in the future.