Corbin to shut down trolley service Friday

Corbin officials are shutting down the trolley Friday due in part to lack of use. Officials say it rarely had more than 10 riders a day.

The Corbin trolley will make its last scheduled stop Friday.

Corbin City Manager Marlon Sams announced Tuesday that after conversations with the budget committee, the decision has been made to suspend the trolley service, effective Friday.

“The trolley, though a great service, does not currently align with the economic goals of our city,” Sams said in a statement announcing the decision.

“Great effort was made by the City to build the trolley program and encourage ridership, but ultimately the financial burden outweighed the demand,” Sams added.

The trolley has been in operation in Corbin since December and began running on a fixed time schedule in March.

The route ran from Trademart Shopping Center through downtown to the hotels off of Exit 25.

When the time schedule was announced, Corbin Downtown Director Andy Salmons said he was realistic about the trolley, adding that if it was not being used by the public as envisioned, the city should find other ways to use it.

However, according to daily ridership numbers, the trolley was rarely exceeding 10 riders per day.

“I wish we would give it a little more time, but, ultimately, I understand and support the decision,” Salmons said.

Sams and Salmons agreed that the trolley still has a place in the city, even on a limited basis and the goal is to determine how it may best be used.

“We just need to figure out what the new object is in having the trolley and then we work on ways to implement that,” Salmons said

Salmons said while there have been no discussions, the idea of using the trolley to shuttle people at the Moonbow Nights event at NIBROC Park to Cumberland Falls to view the moonbow has merit.

Salmons said like other projects and events Corbin Downtown has been involved with, the end of the trolley program will not discourage him from trying new things.

“There are always projects we are working on,” Salmons said of Corbin Downtown.

Salmons informed the city commission in July that the downtown program had purchased the used trolley from Eastern Kentucky University for $6,325.

Two full-time drivers were hired to operate the trolley.

Sams said the drivers will be transferred to other departments.