StarTran to Debut CNG-Powered Trolleys in Lincoln

StarTran, the transit authority servicing Lincoln, Nebraska, will debut its new downtown trolleys at a holiday celebration December 7. Two trolleys are scheduled to begin service in mid-December, and rides will be free through February 2019.

The trolleys are fueled by CNG and feature vintage-style, cushioned, oak benches, brass molding, leather handgrips and a bell, with all the handicap-accessible amenities and security features of a modern bus.

The trolleys were purchased as part of the ongoing effort to replace 17-year-old buses that are losing fuel efficiency and have high maintenance costs. Each trolley costs about $437,000. The City received about $217,000 per trolley from the Federal Transit Administration Ladders of Opportunity Initiative that promotes job and economic growth through investments in public transit. Black Hills Energy Corp. provided $14,000 per vehicle to promote the use of domestic, efficient and clean CNG in public transit services in Lincoln. The DLA and the Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau are assisting with promotional costs.