AUGUSTA — Ward 4 City Councilor Anna Blodgett wants the city of Augusta to consider a trolley-style bus service that would connect state workers to the downtown and other places, allowing them to grab lunch or do some shopping without getting in their cars.

Blodgett said she’d like the city to consider, as part of the upcoming process of putting together next year’s city budget, purchasing something like a lightly-used 32-passenger trolley-style bus to run on a continuous loop with stops including the State House office complex, other state office buildings, the downtown area and locations such as Lithgow Public Library.

She suggested seeing if the state would join the city as a partner in funding such a service, which could charge a small fare for each ride given.

“I think it’s a wonderful idea,” said Ward 1 Councilor Linda Conti, an assistant attorney general who works at the State House complex.

City Manager William Bridgeo said there seemed to be enough support for the idea among councilors that city staff should look into the idea. He suggested working with another entity already involved in transportation in the area, such as Kennebec Valley Community Action Program, which runs the Kennebec Explorer regional bus service.

The idea sprang from a discussion at Thursday’s City Council meeting about what to do with two 1994, 17-passenger trolley-style buses the city owns.

City staff estimated it would cost $40,000 to get one of the trolleys back on the road in good, presentable condition.

Keith Edwards can be contacted at 621-5647 or at:

kedwards@centralmaine.com

Twitter: kedwardskj

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