Saratoga-Report Editorial: Where is the Saratoga Trolley?

In years past, before COVID, the annual Memorial Day weekend return of the Saratoga Visitors Trolley was a sure sign that the Saratoga Summer season was upon us.  For a city with such a stake in the tourism economy, the trolley was an added resource for both transportation and atmosphere. It made Saratoga just a little more nice – and fun.

In 2020, when most things visitors love about Saratoga were closed or off-limits to tourists, the trolley was understandably absent.  No tourists; no trolley.  It of course made sense.

But this is 2021, and shoppers and diners have been coming to downtown Saratoga Springs in impressive numbers since at least March’s unseasonably warm weather.  The crowds are only getting bigger, and local business owners are reporting positive numbers.  This week’s announcements that most COVID restrictions were being lifted in NYS and that Saratoga Race Course would open at 100% capacity confirmed we are heading strongly back to normalcy.

So, where is the trolley, and when is it coming?

Saratoga-Report posed that question in an email to CDTA this week, and to the authority’s credit a spokesperson replied in a timely –  and honest – manner.  The reply stated in part “We are still working out the details on the Saratoga Trolley, but we are hopeful that it will return for the summer season. We will be posting information about seasonal services as decisions are made.”

“Still working out the details” and “we are hopeful” feels like an underwhelming response considering we are less than a month away from track season.  CDTA does not get their revenue solely from fares.  The authority is supported by taxpayer money and Saratoga County has a seat on the board of directors, currently filled by Georgeanna M. Nugent.

Our elected officials and Ms. Nugent need to advocate for the near-immediate return of the CDTA Visitors Trolley.  Saratoga is back, and the transportation agency that serves this county needs to act accordingly and bring our services back to pre-COVID levels.