The Suburban Times

A community bulletin board for Western Pierce County.

Pierce Transit begins Summer Trolley Demonstration Project

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By Carol C. Mitchell

LAKEWOOD – Pierce Transit, in partnership with Gig Harbor stakeholders, will begin a demonstration trolley service in Gig Harbor.  The PT Trolley – Get Around Gig Harbor! will connect the historic downtown waterfront district to the Uptown shopping district. Beginning July 9, 2013, PT Trolley service will offer trips every 30 minutes beginning at 11:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, with extended service to 9:30 pm on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. This demonstration project will conclude on September 28, 2013.

The PT Trolley – Get Around Gig Harbor! demonstration project is made possible in cooperation with a Gig Harbor Community Investment Team, which is comprised of the City of Gig Harbor, Gig Harbor Chamber of Commerce, Merchants of Uptown and the Gig Harbor Downtown Waterfront Alliance.  The partners have been meeting with Pierce Transit staff for several weeks to design the service.

“Trolley service has been a goal of the Gig Harbor community for a number of years. With such strong support from community stakeholders, the time is right to pilot this project.” said Lynne Griffith, Pierce Transit CEO. Trolley service is a tailored transit solution that will aide in Gig Harbor’s unique transportation challenges.  “The PT Trolley will help reduce congestion in downtown, connect the downtown and uptown districts and renew interest in public transportation,” said Derek Young, Gig Harbor Councilmember and Pierce Transit Board Member.

This project will not reduce existing service on Pierce Transit’s Routes 100 and 102, which currently serve the City of Gig Harbor.  For further information regarding the Gig Harbor Trolley Demonstration Project, including proposed routes and fare information, watch for upcoming announcements soon on Pierce Transit’s website, www.piercetransit.org.

For more about the partners visit their websites::