The City of Sevierville will receive a new trolley system in September or October of this year, according to Bob Stahlke, Information Officer, for the City of Sevierville. The total cost of the trolley system for the City of Sevierville is $2,600,000. Of the total, $2,100,000 is from Federal, State, and private grants. Leaving only $500,000 remaining, which will be picked up by taxpayers.
The City of Sevierville will receive eight trolleys. Of those eight, four will be powered by propane fuel and the remaining four will be powered by hybrid electric. The benefit to this type of power is that it is environmentally friendly by reducing harmful vehicle emissions.
The trolley service is projected to be in operation by November or December 2004. There are two proposed routes, which will be expanded as needed. Initially, both routes will not run at the same time. One route will run from the Sevierville Court House to Patriot Park in Pigeon Forge, with six trolleys available (two will remain for backup), and will run on thirty-minute intervals.
The other route will make more stops, running every fifteen minutes, stopping at area businesses such as Apple Barn, Wal-Mart and Five Oaks Outlet Mall. It will run from Governor’s Crossing in Sevierville to Patriot Park in Pigeon Forge. The second route will be implemented next spring around March 2005. Trolleys will not run in the months of January and February since the Pigeon Forge trolley system does not operate then.
The City of Pigeon Forge will be responsible for operating and maintaining the trolleys and will provide drivers for the City of Sevierville trolley system. In return the city of Sevierville will reimburse the City of Pigeon Forge for operating expenses. It is because of this close relationship between the two cities that the City of Sevierville was able to receive grants for funding. Government Agencies are encouraging more cities to use public transportation and to partner with an already existing trolley system in an effort to be more environmentally friendly.
“I think there are multiple things right about this project,” stated Information Services Director for the City of Sevierville Jim Deanda. “I’m pleased with the relationship that is continuing to develop and mature with the City of Pigeon Forge on our continuing efforts to alleviate our traffic congestion. This is a great project but we need a grass roots effort from the public to help promote it. City Hall can only do so much.”
Deanda stated, “When someone asks, how do I get somewhere, people need to answer, just hop on the trolley and the driver will show you the best stop for your destination. It’s up to the city government, the merchants and the citizens to help promote our newest traffic asset.”
The new trolley system will be a great boom to Sevierville and Pigeon Forge. Citizens and tourists will find it convenient and efficient. The system is planned to be seamless so that riders will not notice any difference between the two city trolley systems.
“It will help with the traffic situation if people use it and that is our ultimate goal” said Deanda. “While our main goal is to get tourists to use the trolley system, and the logical extension is for locals to use it. Eventually it would be nice to have a link from Seymour bringing people into Sevierville.”
That someday, may be a reality.

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