Pine Bluff hopes to catch trolley

LITTLE ROCK — People walking in downtown Pine Bluff can soon catch a trolley bus and ride by the convention center or farmers market if the plans meet federal approval, officials said.

Pine Bluff transit manager Larry Reynolds said the city is buying three trolley buses from Shreveport that operate like regular buses, though the inside and outside of the vehicles look like old-fashioned trolleys with brass handles and wooden seats.

Pine Bluff plans to purchase the rubber-tire trolleys for $5,000 each and will take on Shreveport’s obligation of $102,310 to the Federal Transit Administration, according to Shreveport City Council documents.

Shreveport is awaiting approval from the federal agency to transfer ownership of the trolleys to Pine Bluff, which Reynolds said he hopes can happen within two weeks.

The Transit Administration is a branch of the U.S.

Department of Transportation that supports and oversees public transportation-system projects that get federal assistance, including buses, subways, light rail and streetcars.

The Shreveport and Pine Bluff city councils approved the trolleys’ transfer this month, Reynolds said.

Reynolds said Shreveport originally bought the trolley buses for about $37,000 each, and since then the city has spent more than $100,000 refurbishing them.

“When I called the guy he said basically, ‘I’ve got three vehicles here that I can’t use, make me an offer.’

“So I made him an offer, and he took it, and his council approved it, too,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds said he doesn’t expect any significant maintenance costs for the refurbished trolley buses, adding that any potential charges for riding one have yet to be determined.

Other Arkansas cities that have trolley transportation include Little Rock and North Little Rock, which share a route run by the Central Arkansas Transit Authority, and Fort Smith.

Pine Bluff City Council member Irene Holcomb said the vote to acquire the trolley buses was unanimous and she hasn’t heard about any opposition to them.

“I think it’s a win-win situation for the city. It could actually enhance some tourism because there are some interesting things to see and people tend to like to ride trolleys,” she said.

“I think it will be a way to tout some of the positive things we have to offer here.”