Clang, clang or clunk? City eyes P.A. trolley

Published 11:36 am Wednesday, March 19, 2014

A 25-passenger trolley declared surplus by the Port Angeles City Council on June 2 could be headed for Sequim if enough partners are found to make it feasible.

Several parties have expressed interest in keeping the trolley in the area because it has appeal for special events, Interim City Manager Linda Herzog said at the June 8 city council meeting.

A partnership will be necessary to buy and operate the trolley because of insurance and other costs, she said.

It was bought by the city of Port Angeles, Port Angeles Downtown Association, Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce and Clallam Transit System, but Port Angeles now has declared it surplus, Herzog said.

She told the council that the city of Port Angeles will hang on to the trolley until Sequim makes a decision.

The 1987 General Motors trolley has 64,282 miles on it.

In July 2007, Clallam Transit transferred ownership to the city of Port Angeles, but it never was used due to cost and liability concerns.

Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Vickie Maples said because Port Angeles has declared the trolley as surplus, the sooner they pull a deal together, the better.

"It’s in the early stages. We want to keep it on the peninsula for local festivals and events," she said.

Scott Nagel, executive director of the Sequim Lavender Festival, said the trolley is great and people love it.

"It used to shuttle people during the festival through downtown to five stops. It was fantastic. We’ve all been trying to get it running again for several years. I’m sure if it was there, people would love to use it," Nagel said.

Joe Borden, Irrigation Festival director, echoed Nagel’s assessment.

"We would love to have the trolley available for the Irrigation Festival.

"I’m sure it would have to be a joint effort because of the insurance and the need for qualified drivers. "Since it’s public transportation, it’s $4-5 million policy which is $9,000 a year. That’s difficult for just one group to absorb.

"Just because it didn’t work in Port Angeles doesn’t mean can’t work here in Sequim. At some point somebody has to step up," Borden said.

Kevin Thompson, Port Angeles Downtown Association board member, said the trolley was used for special events for "quite a while" but not recently.

"It requires a commercial driver’s license because it has air brakes and it’s also an older machine so it requires more upkeep. It’s just not feasible," he said.

Thompson said the city offered the trolley for sale to the PADA, but after careful consideration the group decided against it.

Reach Brian Gawley at bgawley@sequimgazette.com.