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Save Our Trolleys Campaign Succeeds
In mid-October, 2008, Preservation Society employees joined the City of Newport and the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) to celebrate the return of newly- retrofitted and restored trolleys to the city. The five trolleys, originally fueled by compressed natural gas, were converted to run on clean diesel fuel. In addition to a new fueling system, they received new engines, new electrical and suspension systems and refurbished exteriors.
Initiated by the Preservation Society and supported by the tourism and business community, as well as private individuals who joined a petition drive, the campaign to save the trolleys was prompted by a proposal to replace the trolleys with diesel buses painted to look like trolleys.
With the Preservation Society's urging, RIPTA General Manager Alfred Moscola decided the existing trolleys could instead be retrofitted to run on diesel fuel, which is cheaper than CNG and provides better mileage. "And by giving the trolleys new engines and other new systems, we've extended their useful life by five years, meaning even more money saved," said Moscola.
"This would not have happened if not for the collective voice of hundreds of people, both residents and visitors, who chimed in to let RIPTA know how important these traditional trolleys are to the historic fabric of Newport," said Preservation Society CEO and Executive Director Trudy Coxe. "RIPTA is an important partner with us in supporting tourism throughout the state, and we are happy to have worked collaboratively with them and with the city to achieve an outcome that both saves money and saves the trolleys."
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Click the links below to read the open letter to RIPTA General Manager Alfred Moscola, urging RIPTA to Save Our Trolleys, signed by hundreds of Rhode Islanders and concerned visitors.
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Background Information
Rhode Island Public Transit Authority has a great track record for providing excellent service with modern equipment. Its bus and trolley fleet and its water shuttle from Providence to Newport help reduce congestion in both cities. Ten years ago it set the national standard for convenient and popular vacation transit service when it introduced its fleet of historic trolleys in Newport and Providence. RIPTA itself reports ridership rose 25% when it introduced the true historic trolleys.
Now that it is time to replace those trolleys it is important to keep the standards just as high. Consideration has been made to replace the trolleys with standard “low floor” buses of the kind previously running these routes, or "low floor" imitation trolleys. That would cost tens of thousands of dollars in ridership revenue and tens of thousands of dollars in advertising revenue every year. Over the 10 year life of a fleet of trolleys the lost revenue more than off sets any short term cost savings.
More importantly, RIPTA’s own management report indicates the 25% change in ridership would mean more cars on the streets of Newport and Providence. Reducing congestion is the most important policy objective in this situation. Fortunately good business and good public policy align for RIPTA in investing in true historic trolleys for Newport and Providence.
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