By Bill Raack, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – Plans contineu for a new trolley that will shuttle visitors and employees around downtown St. Louis.
The federal government is giving Metro $250,000 to get the project started. Six trolley buses will operate on a two-mile route that includes hotels, restaurants, stores, residential areas and attractions.
Congressman Lacy Clay disagrees with criticism that downtown St. Louis is not vibrant enough to support amenities like a trolley.
"You think about all of the people that come through this town during the week and the weekends for the Cardinals games, you think about football games on Sundays, you think about people who come down to eat who stay in hotels and conventions here," Clay said Monday. "So there's plenty of activity. We think this just compliments downtown St. Louis."
Officials hope the trolley will begin in the summer of 2005.
Carole Moody, the president of the Convention and Visitors Commission, says the trolleys will fill a void.
"There's so much to see and do here yet linking the attractions and entertainment areas has been our challenge," Moody says. "So, I think that's what this system is going to solve."
The cost of a fare for a trolley ride has not been established yet.