GAINESVILLE, Ga. (May 26, 2022) – The City of Gainesville, specifically Hall Area Transit (HAT), is proud to announce the return of a downtown summer trolley service on weekdays, plus two new downtown neighborhood services on weekends, all utilizing Gainesville’s two blue-and-white trolleys.
“The City of Gainesville leadership team has been talking about ways to show off our new downtown area for several months. Now that the facelift is nearly complete, we think this summer is the perfect time to connect the downtown to some of our neighborhoods,” said Gainesville-Hall County Community Service Center Director Phillippa Lewis Moss, who oversees HAT.
The City, especially in the area of downtown, has seen impressive growth recently with the completion of Solis Gainesville and the latest phase of the Downtown Streetscape Improvements Project, plus continuing work on Gainesville Renaissance, The National and the Gainesville North Parking Deck. Engine 209 Park also recently reopened at 878 Grove St. SW, paving the way for Bourbon Brothers Smokehouse & Tavern and Boot Barn Hall to take shape at the corner of Jesse Jewell Parkway and West Academy Street.
The downtown summer trolley, which has the capability of transporting 24 passengers at one time, will seek out daytime passengers from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday beginning Monday, June 6, creating the opportunity to connect roughly 1,000 households to downtown Gainesville – home to some of the community's favorite eateries, craft beer/wine providers and retailers. Trolleys are estimated to complete a full lap every 30 minutes and will run for the duration of the service time, excluding City-observed holidays.
“I love the idea of connecting people to one another,” Moss said. “There’s no better way to bring a community together than over good food, refreshing drinks, a little shopping and great entertainment. Helping folks get to our revitalized downtown area is just the thing our community needs after nearly three years of social isolation.”
The downtown summer trolley will start at HAT headquarters (687 Main St.), making stops at the Main Street Parking Deck, historic downtown square, Brenau University campus, Quinlan Visual Arts Center, City Park/Martha Hope Cabin, Atlanta Botanical Garden – Gainesville, Lake Lanier Olympic Park, Frances Meadows Aquatic Center, Northeast Georgia Medical Center – Gainesville, Midland Greenway, Gainesville Skate Park, Engine 209 Park and Gainesville Train Station, among other destinations, prior to returning to HAT.
Trolleys serving the Dixon and Glenwood neighborhoods will also run this summer, servicing an estimated 500 households.
“The Downtown-Dixon and Downtown-Glenwood trolleys will operate from 6-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday,” Moss said.
Curious about routes? Maps are available online for both the Downtown-Dixon and Downtown-Glenwood trolley routes.
The downtown trolleys are available to anyone and everyone at no cost, and City officials expect the annual service to be offered exclusively during the summer months prior.
“The trolleys will run from June to August and then again in December for the holiday,” Moss said.
The trolleys, which are heated and cooled, can also comfortably accommodate handicapped passengers, including wheelchairs.
To learn more, visit gainesville.org and/or follow @GainesvilleGeorgiaGovernment on Facebook.