Open-Air Trolleys Coming To Newport Beach: City Council

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — Newport Beach residents will see new Balboa Peninsula trolley cars driving around the city come 2026, after the city council moved to replace the current van shuttle busses during Tuesday's meeting.

According to Newport Beach City Manager Grace Leung, the new trolleys will be more traditional, open air vehicles that are closely resembling Orange County's historic Pacific Electric red car trolleys. The trolleys will also be fueled by compressed natural gas, Leung told Patch.

The city will deliberate a contract in the coming weeks, though Leung said the new trolleys would be ready for operation in summer 2026.

The city's current van shuttle busses will continue to run in the meantime, Leung said.

In addition, councilmembers moved to continue trolley services on summer weekends and holidays for seven more years, through 2031, according to a city staff report.

According to Leung, the city is also exploring options to expand service beyond the peninsula and into Balboa Island, Corona del Mar and Newport Center. The research will be discussed at future city council meetings.

For more information on the Balboa Peninsula Trolley System, click here.