Detroit Citizens Railway Rolls

Detroit Citizens Railway Rolls

Have you ridden the trolley yet? It's in full operation, and you can ride for free until Sept. 27. After that it'll cost you two bits to ride down Washington Blvd. from Larned to Grand Circus Park.

Alex Pollock, a staff planner in the city's Industrial Development Dept., thought up the idea. He urged city officials to purchase the four 75-year-old red and gold trolley cars from Portugal for $54,000. "That was a real bargain," Pollock said.

The open-air cars are rolling now, but they will soon be replaced by enclosed cars because Ol' Man Winter is due to take his toll on the Motor City real soon.

The open-air cars have seats made of oak and cherry wood, while the enclosed vehicles have soft cushioned seats.

"The ride is very nice," Pollock said. "It makes you think of way back when."

It's been twenty years since street cars have rolled down the tracks in the Motor City, but Pollock thinks people will go all out for the new "old" idea.

Total cost of the trolley project is $1,547,000, much of it financed by a federal grant.