All aboard

Ocala will be bringing a trolley to town soon. [Photo courtesy city of Ocala]

Soon, riders will be able to climb aboard Ocala’s new trolley for a novel, and free, way to travel around .

The city of Ocala is set to launch an innovative downtown circulator trolley service, thanks to a recent grant award from the Florida Department of Transportation and updates to its transit management contract.

The trolley service will traverse Ocala’s downtown area, improving mobility for residents, visitors and workers while increasing exposure for local businesses, according to project details outlined in the award letter.

The route will connect key activity centers, including the downtown square, Marion County Courthouse, AdventHealth Ocala Hospital, HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, Ocala Downtown Market, Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership, City Hall/Citizens’ Circle, Tuscawilla Park, Reilly Arts Center and the downtown transfer station.

To address accessibility during high-traffic events, the trolley will serve as a vital resource.

“The service is designed to ease parking challenges in the downtown area while improving accessibility, offering 30-minute route intervals,” said Greg Davis, Ocala’s public information officer. “During events such as Light Up Ocala, while still early, we plan to utilize the trolley as an alternative transit source like we do with our other forms of transportation, as the normal route would be blocked by the event.”

The city will offer a “soft launch” this month.

“At this time the trolley is expected to be there in March, but for now SunTran will have one smaller vehicle for the soft launch of the route,” Davis said recently.

“The route will operate Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.,” Davis said.

He confirmed that the trolley will be offered at no cost to riders.

The project, aimed at enhancing connectivity in the city’s bustling core, will receive up to $114,572 in state funding for fiscal year 2025-26, matched by an equal local contribution, bringing the total investment to $229,144.

“State funding requires a 50/50 match, with city funds covering the remaining share of operating expenses,” said Davis.

The local contribution is sourced through the city’s budget and aligns with the transit management services contract between the city and RATP DEV USA, Inc., which operates SunTran services, including the new trolley initiative.

The funding, part of FDOT’s Public Transit Service Development Program, will support the trolley’s initial operating expenses and a robust marketing campaign.

“Graphics and promotional efforts will support the launch of the trolley,” Davis noted, highlighting plans to raise awareness through signage and integration into the city’s live bus tracking system.

In parallel, Ocala has amended its transit management agreement with RATP DEV USA, Inc. to support the expanded services.

The third amendment, effective as of recent updates, adjusts estimated annual revenue vehicle hours and compensation rates for the renewal term (years four through six of the original contract). For year four, the agreement sets 34,600 estimated annual revenue vehicle hours at a fixed hourly rate of $82.61, plus 200 special service hours and estimated ADA services at $627,930, which are paid per revenue mile.

“The adjustment to estimated annual revenue vehicle hours in year four will have a minimal impact, with fewer than 100 hours reflected in the budget. More significant changes occur in years five and six, where the project introduces approximately 1,700 additional revenue service hours,” Davis said.

These figures rise in subsequent years, with year five projecting 36,200 hours at $87.07 and year six at the same hours with a $91.77 rate. The amendment builds on prior changes that raised staff salaries to attract qualified workers and renewed the contract for its final three-year term.

The Public Transportation Grant Agreement with FDOT, which runs through June 30, 2028, emphasizes joint participation to derive mutual benefits from the project. It includes provisions for audits, compliance with state laws and prohibitions on certain health care-related mandates, reflecting broader state priorities.

For more details on the project or SunTran services, visit ocalafl.gov