MI Trolley Ribbon-Cutting Event Marks the Start of Service

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Monmouth, Oregon (April 2, 2023) – A well-attended ribbon-cutting event marked the official start of the MI Trolley transit system and featured speeches from local elected officials and Cherriots, and live music from a Western Oregon University band. 

“Excitement has been building and we are thrilled to see our sweet little trolley roll through town,” shared Monmouth Mayor Cec Koontz. “We are so fortunate to be able to offer reliable transportation for residents and youth and a fun experience for all visitors to MI Town.”  

“I am delighted that the trolley will more closely unite the communities of Independence and Monmouth,” said Mayor John McArdle. “It will be a great addition to our already thriving cities and will enhance the vibrancy of the entire region.”  

In 2022, Monmouth and Independence received funding to implement trolley services between the two communities. State representatives provided $3M in American Rescue Plan (ARPA) grant funds through the state budget to support a local transit service that links downtown Independence, downtown Monmouth, and the Western Oregon University (WOU) campus. 

The MI Trolley will run every 15 minutes from 21 designated stops from Independence to Monmouth on Monday through Friday from 7 AM – 9 PM, Saturday 8 AM — 10 PM, and Sunday and Holidays from 8 AM – 6 PM. The trolley seats 14 seated passengers, one wheelchair passenger, and a fold-down seat for two more passengers if no wheelchair is present. A downloadable mobile application shows the trolley’s location in real-time, allowing passengers to find the trolley’s current route.  

To learn more and find the MI Trolley route schedule, visit: mitrolley.org. 

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