Should Grand Rapids Bring Back Its Old Trolley System?

With the multitude of massive construction projects going on in Downtown Grand Rapids, from the new outdoor amphitheater to the Amway soccer stadium that recently broke ground, Downtown GR is about to have a lot more people walking around. With more people around means there will be an increased need for free, easily accessible transportation.

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While there are plenty of options to get around downtown, Grand Rapids used to have the coolest form of transportation that may be perfectly poised for a comeback: a trolley system.

Grand Rapids Trolley History

The old trolley system used to be one of the premier ways of getting around the city back in the 1920s-1930s. Back when it was still commonplace to share the street with a horse and buggy, and cars were still relatively new, the electric trolley car was a crucial feature to get around the city. Tracks were laid throughout the city, but due to poor track planning, the trolley didn't serve key parts of the city.

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This led to financial loss, and when the trolley companies planned to overhaul the system to serve the city for years to come, a mixture of the Great Depression and the rise of automobiles combined for the downfall of the trolley system. City buses have been the norm ever since.

Should GR Bring These Back?

Grand Rapids has a lot of charm to it, and with the city continuing to experience a pattern of growth, should the city look into bringing back this unique trolley system? With the amount of road construction that feels like it is constantly happening, surely it couldn't be that hard to add some tracks into the road for easy accessibility, right?

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In reality, the city already offers multiple sources of free transportation around the downtown area. The Downtown Area Shuttle (DASH) provides a free ride all around the city every 15 minutes. The Rapid's Silver Line, too, is free between the Wealthy Station and Central Station. Or, you can take the Lime scooters/bikes around town for cheap.

So, no, there's no reason outside the novelty of having a trolley go around town to bring these back. If you want to do this, there's a beer trolley that goes around sometimes, which is the closest you'll ever get to this experience.

You can view one of these trolley cars as part of the Streets of Old Grand Rapids exhibit at the Grand Rapids Public Museum.