WILMINGTON — WAVE Transit is preparing to launch a month-long trial to fine tune the plan to overhaul its downtown trolley service; the overhaul includes plans to overhaul to the look of the trolley, expand its route, and start charging a “nominal fee.”
The trial will begin on September 1, and will run through the end of the month. This is the second pilot schedule, following an initial test run during the Azalea Festival in April.
According to WAVE Deputy Director Megan Matheny, the trial route will cover considerably more ground that the current route; it will include sections of Market and Castle streets not covered during the Azalea Festival route.
“The pilot that will operate in September will service the Brooklyn Arts District, Castle St. and both the Bellamy Mansion Museum and the Cape Fear Museum,” Matheny said.
Comparing ridership of the current route, the Azalea Festival route, and September’s expanded route will help WAVE decide on a final layout. According to City Councilman Paul Lawler, who has been an advocate of expanding the downtown route to help connect growing commercial areas in the Northside, on Castle Street, and on South Front Street, said data from the trial will help establish a new route.
“(WAVE) will review the results midway through the month and compare that traffic to the current traffic and to the traffic from the test during the Azalea Festival. That should lead to a permanent change effective October 1,” Lawler said.
Other changes
But WAVE’s overhaul addresses more than just the service area. According to Matheny, WAVE will rebrand the trolley service overall.
“We are taking a holistic approach to this route,” Matheny said.
Changes include:
- Revised schedule
- Revised route (including stops beyond the central business district)
- New vehicles (current vehicles have reached the end of their service life)
- New trolley stop signage
- Renaming the trolley
According to Matheny, WAVE is considering a “community naming contest” to rename the trolley, with more details to be released after the trial run.
Part of the reason the trolley will get a new name is that it will likely no longer be free.
“Feedback from survey efforts conducted during our Short Range Transit Plan and the downtown task force that is driving this process supports a nominal charge for the revised trolley,” Matheny said, adding that WAVE is still in the discussion phase regarding the new fare structure for the downtown trolley.
It does appear that WAVE will charge less than the current $2 standard fare for other WAVE routes. WAVE has also discussed partnering with local businesses, museums, and attractions to offer “trolley tokens” to help incentivize the use of the trolley.
WAVE’s expanded downtown trolley route trial begins Saturday, September 1 and runs through Sunday, September 30. The route runs from Fourth and Brunswick street, down Front Street to Market Street, past the Cape Fear Museum to 10th Street, down Castle Street and then Greenfield Street, past the South Front District, and back up South Front Street.
Trial hours of operation:
- Monday – Friday 7:10 a.m. – 8:50 p.m.
- Saturday 10:30 a.m. – 8:50 p.m.
- Sunday 10:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
For route maps and more information, visit www.wavetransit.com or call 910-343-0106.
