Riverside Avondale Trolley trial begins

Trolley will run the first weekend of each month during trial

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Friday night marked the first night of the weekend trial for the Riverside Avondale Trolley. If things work out, the trolley could become a permanent weekend fixture in the Riverside and Avondale areas.

Many are hoping that if the trolley becomes permanent it could help with the terrible traffic problems in the Riverside and Avondale areas.

"My driveway is often used by others and that is a problem. You come out to try to leave and there's someone parked behind you," said Joe Kincart.

JTA officials told Channel 4 Friday night that for the next six months, the trolley will run once a month on the first Friday and Saturday of each month. The trolley will pick up at five different points in the Riverside/Avondale area.

JTA said making the trolley happen, even for a trial period, was a collaboration between them and the Riverside Avondale Preservation Society.

"We really worked with a neighborhood that this is a need that they saw and we thought it was an excellent opportunity to expand ridership, and so we've been working with them to put together the trolley," said JTA's Brad Thoburn.

RELATED: Parking problems continue in Riverside, Avondale

Thoburn told Channel 4 that JTA is going to monitor its progress throughout the trial period. The hope is to eventually make it run Monday through Friday. Those in the area say they want to keep it around.

"I can't believe that once it starts, it won't be used a lot. People will see how smart it is," said one area resident.

The trolley trial ends in the summer. From there, officials will decide whether it will become a permanent ride option for Riverside and Avondale.


About the Authors:

Ashley Harding joined the Channel 4 news team in March 2013. She reports for and anchors The Morning Show.