Battle Creek offers trolley to help navigate construction

Battle Creek is saying more than “pardon our dust” as work continues on the streetscape construction project downtown. A trolley is now available during the lunch hour to help people navigate through downtown construction.

Steetscape construction started in April and is expected to continue into 2012.

The trolley runs Monday through Friday and rides are no cost.  The trolley can take riders from one side of the construction zone to the other. The trolley was brought into service because there often is not time for people who want to dine out during the lunch hour to get through the construction and still make it back to work on time, says Alyssa Jones, of Battle Creek Unlimited and the Battle Creek Downtown Partnership.

The goal is “to get employees into the downtown businesses and back at work as quickly as possible,” Jones says.

The trolley will run continuously from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. through November. Ridership will be evaluated to determine whether the trolley is being used. If it’s not the funds could be reallocated in other ways to assist downtown businesses dealing with the disruption of construction.

The route takes about 10 minutes and the trolley will reach stop within ten minutes. Signs that say “Trolley Stop” are posted to guide riders.

The trolley, made available by the City of Battle Creek and Battle Creek Unlimited.

Writer: Kathy Jennings. Second Wave
Source: Alyssa Jones,  Battle Creek Unlimited, Battle Creek Downtown Partnership