The Berea Tourism Commission has shelved plans to purchase a trolley this year.
In a unanimous vote at last week’s business meeting, officials tabled the item, which was initially budgeted for $150,000. Plans to purchase a trolley stalled following an April 2 Berea City Council meeting, in which city officials were asked to boost the trolley spending budget to $225,000. Following the request, Councilman Steve Caudill asked to hold off on the vote pending a council work session.
At an ensuing Berea Tourism Commission meeting last Wednesday, the commission voted to table the purchase for this year pending more research.
In a council work session on Thursday, Caudill agreed that while there needs to be some form of transportation to move people around town, he wants specific cost/benefit numbers showing precisely how the purchase will benefit citizens and businesses.
“If you can show me the economic benefit for $225,000, I’m all in,” Caudill said.
Berea Tourism Commissioner Bill West explained there were two important factors in the change in price. First, there was a need to make the trolley more accessible for passengers with mobility issues. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted production of trolleys, while the cost of materials and labor have increased significantly since the pandemic. Additionally, after shopping for used trolleys, which now cost an average of $180,000, officials decided it is a better investment to purchase a trolley that has a full warranty, and which doesn’t already have a lot of miles.
Councilmember Teresa Scenters asked if there are other Kentucky cities that have tourism trolleys. Business and Tourism Development Director Donna Angel offered three examples: Bowling Green, Owensboro, and Louisville.
At one point, Councilmember Katie Startzman asked whether there is any data on demographics to know precisely who would use the trolley. West replied that Berea is increasingly seen as a hub for travelers, who stay overnight in the city, then use Berea as a base to explore other parts of the Bluegrass region. Additionally, he added Berea is attracting more tourists for weekend getaways, and that a trolley makes for a very family-friendly addition to Berea’s overall tourism offerings, since kids like to ride them.
In a related development, Tourism Motorcoach Specialist Emily Reynolds revealed this week that Berea has been approached to pursue talks involving the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame & Museum and Renfro Valley to have a cooperative relationship in which Renfro Valley attractions refer their customers to Berea and vice versa. Further discussions of that idea have yet to take place, Reynolds said.
Mayor Bruce Fraley agreed that Berea will likely be increasingly used as a travel hub, in which visitors stay in town a couple of days a week. But he agreed that more questions need to be answered about the potential cost of a trolley.
In years past, Berea has rented a trolley from Kentucky River Foothills at a cost of $600 per day. Angel added that leasing a trolley isn’t cost effective for the city.
When asked about the importance of buying a trolley, Angel said it is about building on Berea’s brand as a destination. Angel recently reported that conferences, festivals, events, and motorcoaches visiting Berea brought in $4 million for local businesses last year. That was according to a survey of local business owners. Angel said a trolley could further boost Berea’s tourism profile.
“It’s an added attraction, and it’s something that other cities don’t have,” Angel said.
City of Berea, KY 