Travel Lima by trolley

The Allen County RTA trolley will be downtown this summer to transport residents to events.

Precious Grundy | The Lima News

LIMA — A new way of transportation is coming to downtown Lima. The Allen County Regional Transit Authority has purchased a new trolley that will have a designated route downtown. RTA co-director Brian Wildermuth weighed in on the inspiration for the new route.

“We have a great board that said, ‘Hey guys, come up with some new stuff,’” Wildermuth said. “We went somewhere for an event and saw a trolley. We thought, ‘I bet we could pull this off.’ ”

The downtown trolley will be available every Saturday from 8:20 a.m.-4:50 p.m. beginning July 1 through November.

The free transit will make stops downtown at various restaurants and event centers including the upcoming amphitheater. On Aug. 11, the trolley will be open on Friday evenings starting at 4:20 p.m.-9:15 p.m. Wildermuth said 2023 will be the year for trial and error. RTA hopes to begin opening earlier in the year in 2024, beginning in May.

“We are hoping to make it easier for people to get around downtown and get to different places,” Wildermuth said. “We are hoping it will also help with traffic downtown. You will be able to hop on and be able to get wherever and back to your car. That way you are not always driving around.”

Reach Precious Grundy at 567-242-0351.