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New trolleys running on Island

Manatee County Area Transit has added four new trolleys to service the Island. And they’re quieter than the old ones, too.

MCAT began the free Manatee Trolley on the Island in March 2002. The service operates from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily, holidays included, from the Anna Maria City Pier to Coquina Beach.

The original five trolleys - three are in service at any given time, with two on hand as backup - were enhanced recently by the addition of four new “state of the art” vehicles, according to MCAT Manager Ralf Heseler.

They’re quieter, and the trolley service keeps an estimated 500 to 750 cars off Gulf Drive per day. Ridership in March averaged 2,500 people per day, Heseler said.

The new trolleys will be presented at an event hosted by MCAT at Coquina Beach at 10 a.m. Friday, July 7.