The Yorktown Trolley system is finally ready to unveil the newest member of its fleet as it celebrates its 20th season.
The Williamsburg Area Transit Authority is currently finishing the inspection process for trolley No. 5 and expect it to be ready for service by mid to late September, said Darren Williams, waterfront operations supervisor for York County.
The new trolley was bought through a grant in partnership with WATA, Williams said.
It will feature the updated ETA Transit technology, which allows passengers to track the trolley in real time and predicts estimated arrival times and lists nearby attractions.
“It’s a pretty neat way to reach out to customers,” Williams said. “It also eliminates the need for people to call our office and ask where the trolley is or when it will be arriving.”
That new technology is also being equipped on other trolleys in the fleet.
The trolleys will also feature a new “infotainment” system that allows riders to view attractions, shops and events on a screen in the trolley.
The fleet had been using a DVD-system to advertise various aspects of the area which made the information difficult to update regularly. The new system is through a web-based admin portal that allows the department to upload videos and information in a matter of seconds, Williams said.
The new trolley was also built on a “stabilitrak” and will feature an updated climate control system.
With the addition of the new trolley, the Yorktown Trolley’s original vehicle will be retired after 20 years of service. Warren said the original trolley was still functioning fine, but because it was so old it became difficult and expensive to continue maintenance.
With the retirement of one trolley and the addition of the other, there will be a total of three in the fleet, Williams said. There are two trolleys running through Yorktown during the day; the third trolley will be used for large crowds or if one of the others needs maintenance.
Williams said there isn’t any planned event to unveil the new trolley because of the current pandemic. However, the trolleys will continue certain health precautions such as limiting passenger capacity, asking guests to wear masks and providing a hand sanitizing station on each trolley.
For more information on routes and times, visit York County online.
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