Downtown Trolley In Toms River Rolls Out for Second Year

TOMS RIVER, N.J. — The Downtown Toms River Trolley is returning for its second year, taking passengers all over the local area. The free service, provided by the Toms River Business Improvement District, will run a historic tour daily until Labor Day. The trolley currently has seven stops, with more being added throughout the summer.

Just like last year, the trolley will run a self-guided local loop around downtown Monday through Friday, Alizar N. Zorojew, Executive Director for the Downtown Toms River Business Improvement District said.

A grant from the Ocean County Cultural and Heritage Commission will help fund the guided tours, he said. The guided tours will run on Saturdays where riders can learn about what they are seeing.

Current Route

• Toms River Park and Ride Bus Terminal near the GSP on Highland Parkway
• Toms River Center at the intersection Main St. and Rt. 37 (Kohls, the Office Lounge, etc.)
• Town Hall/Library on Washington Street
• Ocean County Parking Garage/Historical Society on Hadley Avenue
• Huddy Park lot on Water Street
• Main Street at the corner of Water Street
• Irons Street free parking lot

“The route connects all these hubs with parking structures,” Zorojew said. “We’re going to be adding a stop at 600 Main st., as well as looking at residential areas and considering stops there too.”

Along with the official stops, passengers are also able to get on or get off wherever it’s safe, he said. The trolley can be flagged down to pick up riders, or riders can ask the driver to stop on a shoulder.

Officially, the trolley is considered a tour bus, not a transportation vehicle, Zorojew said. Riders don’t have to stay on the vehicle for the entire loop.

Contract Woes

After contract issues with the Great American Trolley Company of Cape May, from which Toms River rented the trolley last year, Zorojew said they decided to look into other options, including purchasing one.

"What I came across was a trolley bus that was for sale from a company down in Forked River. They had this classic trolley they used for weddings, things like that," Zorojew said. "The company was liquidating and they were selling a lot of stuff. I went and looked at the trolley and loved it. It was beautiful, well maintained but we couldn’t afford it at the time."

With no contract in hand after months of negotiations with Great American, he said he looked at the trolley from Forked River again after he found out it was going to be auctioned off.

"I went up to Wayne after I got permission from my board to have a spending limit, and we wound up winning and getting the trolley for an affordable cost," Zorojew said. "We had it towed back to Toms River and now we’re in the process of getting it registered, fixed up and cleaned."

Currently, the trolley is out of service as the alternator is being rebuilt and being tuned up, but Zorojew hopes to have it in service and out on the road within the next week.

As for sponsors this year, he said the largest sponsor has already been locked in. Apex United, a telemarketing service in Toms River, will run a banner ad that will span one entire side of the trolley. Sponsors are still being sought to fill out the opposite side of the vehicle.

History of the Trolley

The Business Improvement District’s board of directors came up with the idea last year to run a trolley similar to the one in Point Pleasant.

"They rent a vehicle from Great American and they fund it with sponsorships like banner ads," Zorojew said.

He said he met with Carol Vaccaro, who runs the Point Pleasant Chamber of Commerce, who gave him a tour, they rode the trolley as they spoke about the towns experience with it.

"We came back (to Toms River), lined up some sponsors. Once they were committed, we signed a contract with Great American to rent a vehicle," Zorojew said.

Despite the company saying they would provide drivers, he said the town took on that responsibility as well. They advertised and eventually hired Amy Ivers, a driver for the school district who had summers off. Ivers has been rehired to drive the trolley again this summer.

"She was highly recommended by our resident committee, who rode the trolley last summer," Zorojew said.

Hours of operation
The trolley will run daily. The hours are as follows:

• Sunday - 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Monday - 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Tuesday - 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Wednesday - 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Thursday - 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Friday - 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Saturday - 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For more information about the trolley, call 732-341-8738 or visit Downtown Toms River.