By: Mariel Carbone

February 20, 2017

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) -- Dozens of residents were "taking the T" on Monday.

The City of Tallahassee officially launched its new, free trolley service, which takes residents to various hot spots around town, deemed "local flavors."

"This is going to connect our community in ways we've never been connected before," said Paige Carter-Smith, with the Downtown Improvement Authority.

City Commissioner Nancy Miller is behind the initiative, and said that residents have been requesting the service since she first came into office a few years ago. And, that she's been keeping an out eye out for them everywhere she travels.

"I'd see trolleys here and there, and it's like everyone has one. Where are ours?" said Miller.

Across the state of Florida several other cities offer the service in some type of capacity. In Panama City there is the BayTown Trolley; Jacksonville has a beach trolley; and Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach all have them, too.

The trolley service will operate on weekdays from 11:45 a.m. until 2 :15 p.m. And, on Friday and Saturday evenings 4:30 p.m. until 1 a.m. The schedule runs about every twenty minutes, with three routes: Cascade Park, Midtown, and Collegetown.

Business owners along the various routes said they are excited for the possibilities this will bring.

"Anytime we can infuse 30, 40 thousand people that work Downtown into our area, I'm certainly happy about it," said Matt Thompson, Managing Partner with For the Table Hospitality.

"It gets people out, it gets people moving around and I think that's what we're looking for. We want the city to be vibrant and active and have people enjoy our city," said Steve Adams, Director of Operations at the

Edison.

Riders can track the trolleys and stops online at

.

Many residents are already taking advantage of the system.

"Well it's so convenient, and it's a great ride and we're having a little party here," said resident Bart Gunter.

City officials said they don't expect the free service to have a financial impact on taxpayers, as the trolleys were given to the City for free from Palm Beach. And, the City is restructuring the Rhythm Route service to offset the operating cost.

By: Mariel Carbone

February 17, 2017

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV)—Residents and visitors to the city of Tallahassee will soon have a new way to get around town.

The City will roll out its new free trolley service on Monday.

The big red and yellow trolleys are marked with a “T,” leaving the catch phrase “taking the T.” They also sport the slogan “free rides to local flavors.” Stops will include Cascades Park, Midtown, College Town and of course downtown.

"It's just really going to be fun. And it's also going to open up a lot of opportunities for people that are downtown, it's going to give our visitors a chance to move to different areas of our city easily,” said City Commissioner Nancy Miller.

Miller said people have been asking for the service for the past five years, including the business community. She said the Downtown Improvement Authority was a big help in making this happen.

The service will run from 11:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Monday through Friday, with trolleys running every twenty minutes. Plus, evening hours will be offered on the weekend. Residents can locate stops on the Tal Gov website and stops are marked with a big “T,” at existing StarMetro stops.

The City hopes this will help with some of the traffic, parking and safety concerns in the downtown area.

Miller said they don’t expect to see a financial impact here, as the buses were given to the City for free from Palm Beach. And, they will be cutting back on some of the services on the Rhythm Route, which will compensate for the new service.

The City will host its inaugural ride on Monday, with three trolleys leaving from City Hall at 11:45 a.m. City officials and representatives from the Downtown Improvement Authority will make brief remarks prior, at 11:30 a.m.

Members of the public are invited to stop by for the first ride.