Dupage Policy Journal

At its March 6 meeting, the Elmhurst City Council discussed the future and possible expansion of the city's Explore Elmhurst Trolley program.

The Explore Elmhurst Trolley program began in 2015 and was created to encourage residents and visitors to spend time in the downtown area and increase access and connections to the stores, businesses and restaurants in the area. The program is active during the summer season and during the holidays. After reviewing the results from the 2022 seasons, the Public Affairs committee suggested a 16-week summer term from June 2 to Sept. 16 and a six-week holiday season from Nov. 25 to Dec. 30.

Alderman Marti Deuter spoke about the changes to the program, such as advertising that increases rates and should bring more revenue, which will also dramatically change the City's data collection methods. Previously, drivers were required to keep count of passengers with a clicker, but this gave no information on rider demographics, which stops were used, the length of their loops or the duration of rides. The City Information Technology Department will now use a new tool that will tell them whether passengers are adults or children, when and where they get on and off, duration of the rides and the ride loops. The council agreed that the new tools will be helpful.

"I’m happy to see the addition of data collection to the program," Alderman Chris Jensen said. "This will be the first summer out of the COVID pandemic, so when this is revisited in a year, we will have good data to examine and consider possible modifications to the program."

This summer, the Trolley will run from noon to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, with a 30-minute loop including seven stops: York and Park, York and Schiller, York and Third, Second and Addison, College Hill and Virginia, Spring and Illinois Prairie Path, and York and Vallette. The Holly Trolley will run from noon to midnight on Saturdays throughout the holiday season along the same route.

Alderman Jacob Hill said he used and enjoyed the Trolley but was not in favor of the new York and Third stop, which he said was too close to other stops and did not expand the route to new areas.

"While it is no longer being considered for this year, I am hopeful that in the future we can see an expanded route during Rock the Block and the Holly Trolley, which would provide an opportunity for residents further from the downtown to enjoy this unique experience more easily during these special events," Jensen added.