from Staff
The JTA is launching a new trolley service at the Beaches with a ceremony Friday at 5:30 p.m. in the park behind the Jacksonville Beach City Hall at 2nd Street and 2nd Avenue. The first trolley ride will depart at 6 p.m.
The new service will offer free rides each weekend through Labor Day. Service will begin at 6 p.m. each Friday and will run until 2 a.m. Saturday. The trolleys will begin running again at 10 a.m. Saturday and continue until 2 a.m. Sunday. Service will resume Sunday at 11 a.m. and end at 7 p.m. Expanded hours for 4th of July (10 a.m.-2 p.m.) and Labor Day (11 a.m.-7 p.m.) will also be observed.
The route will run between the South Beach Regional Shopping Center at A1A and J. Turner Butler Boulevard and the Town Center on Atlantic Boulevard.
“This will help ease the parking issues that the Beaches faces every weekend, especially during the summer months,” said City Council member Art Graham, who represents the Beaches district. “The Beaches are a major destination point for people from all over this region, not just Duval County. With the trolleys, both locals and visitors can easily and safely travel from one area of the Beaches to the next without the worry or hassle of taking their vehicle.”
The service will be free of charge through the Labor Day weekend and JTA is hoping to find sponsors to help fund the service next summer.