Since its inception in September 2000, the Charlottesville Free Trolley has run between Grounds and the Downtown Mall and become a crucial plank in local mass transit. It has augmented the University Transit Service by transporting students between on-Grounds locations and, more importantly, has integrated the University and Charlottesville communities by substantially reducing the amount of time it takes students to get downtown.
Regular Free Trolley riders know, however, that there are limitations to the service's effectiveness. Notably, the final Free Trolley leaves downtown at 11:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, which means students who are returning to Grounds either must end their nights early or find another way home. If students choose the former, downtown businesses lose out on several hours worth of revenue that they otherwise would have collected from late-night food and drink sales. By opting to stay downtown past the cessation of Free Trolley service, though, students put themselves at greater risk if they instead attempt to walk or drive home. With City Council elections approaching and transportation near the top of the agenda, University administrators and student leaders should make it clear that they desire to partner with the City to expand the Free Trolley's weekend hours.
At an Aug. 17 debate, two current Council candidates indicated they are open to pursuing such a service expansion. "Late night service on the [Free Trolley] is a great way to move in a positive direction," independent Brandon Collins said. Dede Smith, who recently secured one of the three Democratic nominations for the Nov. 8 general election, echoed that sentiment. "When the transportation shuts down before the restaurants and bars do, we have a big problem," she said. "So I'd like to see [the City] working with the University to find some measure to fill that gap in late-night transportation."
These are encouraging signals, and the University should respond in kind. Student Council, for example, could pass a resolution in support of a Free Trolley expansion and consider entering into a revised cost-sharing agreement that likely would be established between the University and the City. The University administration, meanwhile, should reach out to new Council members upon their election and begin discussions to determine how much more money the University would be expected to contribute to funding the Free Trolley if it were expanded to include late-night service on the weekends.
When calculating these additional costs, neither the City nor the University should overlook the significant benefits that an expansion of trolley service would bring. It would entice more students to travel downtown for their weekend festivities since they would be able to stay later at the bars and clubs that remain open until well past midnight on weekends. The attendant increase in tax revenue would help offset the cost of expanding the Free Trolley service, and the improved economic climate might attract new businesses to downtown.
For the University, a modest increase to its $60,000 annual contribution to the Free Trolley would offer students a safer alternative to driving or walking home from downtown, particularly while intoxicated. Moreover, if knowing they could return home via the Free Trolley steered more individuals toward spending their weekend nights downtown, it also could cut down on the amount of underage and binge drinking that takes place among students since those risky behaviors are less likely to occur at established businesses than at house parties.
Initiating a late-night Free Trolley, therefore, should have strong appeal to the City, the University administration and the student body. To ensure this plan comes to fruition, though, these three groups must be willing to work together and make short-term financial sacrifices to ensure long-term gains in safety and the quality of life enjoyed by both the University and Charlottesville communities.
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