Trolley / Tram on Scenic 30A

Being a local to the area I feel it would be terrific to have a trolley on 30a. Me and my children spend loads of time is Seaside and Seagrove during the summer months, it would be nice to park the truck and be able to not have to fight traffic, just jump on the trolley and get off where we want then get back on when we are done. For those who choose to sponsor it would benifial as far as advertising goes to promote your buisness by advertising on the trolley it self. I believe it would also be more environmentally healthy. Less vehicles means less output. Also with gas prices being so high, why would you want to drive your vehicle up and down 30A and at times sitting at a standstill because of all the traffic?

I am still checking on details, but so far I think the TDC can't fund the shuttle, but they can pay for advertising on the shuttle, advertising for the shuttle program, and the shuttle stop signs.

So how does one know that the TDC cannot fund the shuttle itself? And trully, can they pay for the advertising and shuttle stop signs? How would one get the TDC to be more involved in this said situation? Would it be wise to petition the TDC for help or would the cost of the shuttle fall directly to the sponsors of the shuttle(i.e. the business)?

I asked people who know such things.

There are specific rules as to what bed tax money can be used for - despite what I/we would LIKE to spend all that money on, it is limited to marketing the area, beach nourishment, beach maintenance, and support of the Panama City Airport (and yes, that last one makes no sense to me either).

Latest per the Sun:
http://www.waltonsun.com/news/tram-6892-week-service.html

The 30-A Tram service developed by Sunshine Shuttle will not yet be operational for the Memorial Day week, but we are hoping to have it up and running by the following week.
While we are in the final lap of getting to our goal of becoming operational, we want to thank the business leaders who are supporting the 30-A Tram service. Our service plan is based on having drop-off and pick-up stops only at the subscribing communities and businesses on 30-A.
Sunshine Shuttle will have two resort style trolleys that will provide safe and fun experiences for the riders. Since each trolley has 30 passenger seats, the two trolleys have the potential to reduce up to 60 vehicles being on 30-A every hour. The trolleys will make two stops at every stop each hour. They will run from noon until 2:00 a.m. (approximately).
We continue to have many inquiries about the service, and if your readers are interested in having the trolleys stop at their businesses, they should call Sunshine Shuttle at 850-974-9911. Information and a map will be linked to all the subscribing businesses and on the following websites: Tourist Development Council, Walton County Chamber of Commerce, SoWal.com, 30A.com, and 30atram.com.

And the latest map - blue triangles are stops, red circles are potential stops where the local businesses/communities have not signed up. Looks like Gulf Place, Seaside, Grayton, Stinky's, and one I can't identify neat Topsail are the confirmed stops so far.
http://www.30atram.com/

The farthermost west stop appears to be Elmo's restaurant.

Update on the trolley?

For howlin at the moon next week, having the trolley drop us off at Grayton Corners, even the Red Bar, would be grayt🙂 Ellen

So does anyone know just what we are looking at in order to get this going? What will it take for the businesses to want to sponsor this? Do they not realize that this would help with the traffic issue at hand!! Not to mention that the businesses will attract more individual if they were to have a stop at their place of business!!

not a business owner but freq visitor and hopefully someday rental property owner who sees much potential-i'd love to go from seacrest to goatfeathers for fresh fish without tieing up the car and i can see much value to rental property owners etc. we can say-you spent the gas to get here now just use the bikes and tram and don't' worry about driving (bad slogan i'm not in marketing) i think it would be better to spend extra $ on food, art etc than gas and enjoy the scenery.

disappointed. thought it would have been up and running by now - after Memorial Day weekend. I guess summer season has just started. hope you get it going. Clearwater Beach had/has one. $1 charge maybe. Nice for bar hopping and seeing other parts of the area. Ellen

how about rental property owners help pay for it....when they rent one house or condo to three families im pretty sure that means between 3 and 8 extra cars....the biggest business on thirty a is rentals










1

I think that the owners could possibly help sponsor this, I don't see why not. Its a great and wonderfull thing that I have read and would like to see that would be brought to the area. I know from research and others postings that it is a Sunshine Shuttle project (850)650-6333, so as owners could possibly call and talk with them and see how they can go about helping pay or sponsor this tram!

I asked people who know such things.

There are specific rules as to what bed tax money can be used for - despite what I/we would LIKE to spend all that money on, it is limited to marketing the area, beach nourishment, beach maintenance, and support of the Panama City Airport (and yes, that last one makes no sense to me either).

These decisions are not made in a vacuum. The people, business leaders, and county leaders made the decision to start the TDC and what its purpose is. Much of what can be done is regulated by state statute. It was decided to help fund the airport to lure Southwest in hopes of bringing more tourists to SoWal. Maybe we'll get to see some numbers of the real impact.

Having read who is supporting the Tram in last week's Sun, it is interesting who isn't. Obviously missing - many Seaside and Rosemary Beach businesses, Reality Management companies...

I would love to ride the tram. Have they said when it will start?

I would love to ride the tram. Have they said when it will start?

Still not enough merchants backing the project yet. Frustrating lack of support from Seaside, Rosemary Beach, Georges and Shades (which would be the turn around point). Every day that passes makes it that less likely it will launch this year.

Are there people we can call or email to let them know we want the shuttle?

There was a report by WMBB on Monday that the goal is to get the trolleys running by next week.

"Right now, the goal for Finch and his staff is to get the Trolleys up and running by next week, after which they would have a trial run of the service up until about Labor day. Next year, they will seek full support from the County Commission and the Tourist Development Council."

http://www.wmbb.com/Global/story.asp?S=14900956&clienttype=printable

South Walton County, Fla. - There are a few more loose ends to tie up, but organizers are set to start a temporary trolley system on 30-A in Walton County. They say it will bring a higher level of safety and convenience to the very busy road.
"The public's calling every day, wanting to know about if it's going to get up and running, people are writing us emails and sending us letters," said John Finch, owner Sunshine Shuttles. The business is spearheading the campaign to get the trolleys on the road.
Finch says the support for his company's 30-A trolley system has been overwhelming - whether it be by phone, or Facebook, where 30A.com recently conducted a survey saying 80% would support a trolley system. He says the trolley would present great promotional opportunities for South Walton.
"Wouldn't we love to be able to market this region and say we've got public transportation? It's not only public transportation, but it's fun!" Finch said.
That fun would stretch along the 18 miles - east to west - of 30 A. Two trolleys would hold 30 passengers each and run every thirty minutes. Currently there are plans for 22 stops. The cost of the two trolleys' service is about $1,600 per day.
Probably most appealing feature of the trolleys: they would be free to riders. Businesses that sponsor a stop at their businesses would provide the funding for the service.
"If all participate...It costs very very little for each business and we all benefit," Finch said.
Frank Nick, owner of Nick's on the Beach, wants his restaurant to get a slice of the public transportation pie, and the benefits that come with it. He warns, however, that this has been tried before back in the 90's with less than desirable results.
"Some of these kids that would get on it were a little rowdy and it turned off a lot of the perspective people who were riding it," Nick said.
He's all for the trolley idea, as long as there are some rules.
"Yes it will work...do I support it...yes I do support it...they need more regulations on their rides," Nick said.
Right now, the goal for Finch and his staff is to get the Trolleys up and running by next week, after which they would have a trial run of the service up until about Labor day. Next year, they will seek full support from the County Commission and the Tourist Development Council.

Why don't they put a money bank in it, like they have on buses when you first get on, so if some people want to "donate" to their ride, they can, but not make it mandatory? I am sure there are many of us who see the benefit of this who wouldn't have a problem throwing a few bucks in to avoid having to find parking, risk driving under the influence, or have to pay a valet for parking, like at Stinky's. Their lot is always full, it's small and if you have a rent a car, like I do, I get a little nervous about someone else parking it.