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04/20/2022 09:14 AMThe free-to-ride Clinton Trolley is back again this summer. The trolley will run only on weekends to transport Westbrook and Clinton riders into Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison. The trolley will run Saturday, May 28 through Labor Day.
The trolley will travel along Route One and make seven stops in each direction: Hammonasset Beach, the Clinton Town Dock, Lobster Landing and Shanks, the Arts District, Liberty Green, the Stop & Shop plaza, and the Westbrook town line. It will take about 50 minutes to complete the route roundtrip.
The trolley is a joint venture between the Clinton Placemakers, the Clinton Chamber of Commerce, and the Economic Development Commission (EDC) as part of an effort to increase interest in Clinton beyond the factory outlet stores. It debuted in the summer of 2019. The trolley is operated by 9 Town Transit (9TT).
9TT Executive Director Joe Comerford explained that this year, the trolley will run Thursday through Sunday from May 28 through Labor Day, plus the three Monday holidays. Hours are still being finalized, but are tentatively noon to 9 p.m. on Thursday through Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
“Last year, despite the very rainy weekends, the trolley was transporting upwards of 500 people per month, which was an increase over past years. We are hopeful that with better weather we will see even higher numbers this year,” Comerford said.
After originally just transporting people around Clinton for the first two summers of its existence, things changed last year thanks to help from the state. That year the state selected the trolley to be a part of a Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the Department of Transportation program called ParkConneCT, which was aimed at improving access to state parks while reducing congestion around them. That paved the way for the trolley to leave Clinton borders and stop at Hammonasset, which is the plan again this year.
“We are working with the state to promote the trolley regionally as part of the ParkConneCT program, through print brochures and an online marketing campaign. In addition, the Clinton Chamber of Commerce is planning some marketing as well in the hopes of bringing people from nearby towns in to ride the trolley,” Comerford said.
Comerford said that the trolley costs $40,000 to operate with the cost shared between the Connecticut Department of Transportation, DEEP, and the Clinton Chamber of Commerce. However, the trolley will once again be free to ride and Comerford said it offers a different way for residents and visitors a like to get around.
“The trolley is an open-air replica trolley. It features authentic wooden benches, a real cupola, working bell, and, of course, a cow catcher. It provides an easy way to access Hammonasset State Park and shopping and dining destinations in Clinton. It offers a unique way for residents to be a tourist in their own town at one of the many foodie destinations, and provides a great way for boaters and campers to access the many attractions Clinton has to offer,” said Comerford.
Comerford said the trolley is just one service the state is running under the ParkConneCT program and not the only one in the Hammonasset area.
“In addition to the trolley, we will also be running other ParkConneCT services again this year. This includes our Madison to Middletown route, which will start in downtown Middletown and go to Hammonasset State Park, as well as the Madison Shuttle, which runs between the park and Madison town center and the train station,” said Comerford.
Learn more at estuarytransit.org/ParkConneCT and at clintontrolleyworks.com.