A bright red trolley cruises down Main Street on a sunny summer day. The trolley driver rings the bell at the people standing on the sidewalk while they wave back at the trolley. It feels a little like walking onto the set of a TV filming studio where one would expect to see Mr. Rogers walking around the corner wearing his signature sneakers and cardigan. But this is just a normal Saturday afternoon in Monmouth, Oregon. 

The Monmouth Independence Trolley, known locally as MI Trolley, began operations in 2023, with the establishment of a pilot trolley service. It started as a dream many years before that, when a group of local leaders decided Monmouth and Independence needed a more accessible, reliable, and fun way of getting back and forth between the two cities, whose two historic downtowns are separated by less than three miles. 

This transportation challenge is not a new one. In the early 20^th century, Monmouth’s Main Street District was the bustling hub of the community, complete with the majority of the commercial and institutional uses clustered together in a vibrant, walkable community center. Monmouth’s downtown was connected to the neighboring downtown in the City of Independence by the Monmouth and Independence Railroad, affectionately referred to as ​“The Peanut Roaster” by the locals. Within decades, the arrival of the automobile would replace the Peanut Roaster. 

Now, a century later, the Main Street District is being revitalized and recast as the commercial, civic, and cultural center of Monmouth through the implementation of the Monmouth Downtown Plan 2022 – 2042. Through the plan, the community demonstrated their desire for a strong Main Street with recommendations that include support for transit and management of parking, creating draws for regional tourism, and highlighting the historic nature of the district.

Creating the Trolley

To establish the pilot trolley-style bus service, the City of Monmouth worked with a project partnership team that included staff from the two cities, Western Oregon University, and the local transit operator, Cherriots. They engaged the community and developed the logo, colors, and brand that would invite people to ride while reflecting the identity of the two cities. Community members were surveyed in both cities, asking if they would ride the trolley. The response was overwhelming: people would ride the trolley if one was available. 

With grant funding provided by the State Legislature, the cities launched the trolley service. They created a schedule for the trolley to run every day for up to 14 hours, with service every 20 minutes. Trolley stops were designated for their proximity to schools, local shopping sites, places of recreation, and health care services, with the downtowns of Monmouth and Independence serving as the route’s anchors. The trolley is fare-free, meaning anyone can step on and connect with their community at no cost.

Connecting Communities

Since its launch, the trolley has averaged 10,000 monthly riders. Those rides boost the economic vitality of the cities’ Main Street districts by circulating shoppers and employees while reducing the need for parking. Limiting the need for parking and investing in other modes of access to Main Street are key to maintaining the physical form and character of the district.

The trolley, with its historic form and function that mirror those of the trolley seen on the television show Mr. Roger’s, has become a draw in its own right, with many reporting that they came to the community just to ride the trolley and visit the two cities’ downtowns. The trolley helps to promote the aesthetic and design identity while performing remarkable practical functions, averaging a strong 300 rides a day, with ridership surveys showing a diverse ridership of tourists and shoppers and also employees, students, seniors, and others who have important, community-sustaining trips to make but may lack the access to a car, or benefit from the convenience of the trolley schedule.

While this service has provided substantial benefit to the downtowns of Monmouth and Independence, the way the trolley has strengthened the connection between the two cities of Monmouth and Independence makes a substantial impact on the livability of the two communities. The trolley service has markedly increased the ease of mobility between the communities. It has also served to help knit the leaders and staff of the two communities together through their collaboration on the project. 

In addition to coordinated planning and ongoing management, promotion has been a major area of collaboration between the two cities. The trolley regularly makes an appearance in town parades such as, the July 4 Festival and the Holiday Light Parade. It is used as the primary mode of transportation for the ​“Bite of MI Town” restaurant crawl, history tours and downtown trick-or-treating. One of the community’s favorite events is ​“Dress Like Fred Day,” which is held annually on Fred Roger’s birthday. Community members dress up in their favorite cardigans in the fashion of PBS host and trolley enthusiast Fred Rogers and hop aboard the trolley to celebrate with their neighbors. 

Main Streets are Stronger Together

As noted by Monmouth Mayor Cecelia Koontz, ​“The Monmouth Independence trolley is a perfect example of what’s possible when we work together with our partners, listen to our community needs and respond to those needs by creating something wonderful for our community. The trolley not only connects us physically to the places we live, work, and play; it also connects us socially to create one community that embodies our values of inclusion and accessibility.”

The successful launch of the trolley service has been a benefit to the main streets of Monmouth and Independence and through the ongoing collaboration between the cities and engagement with the community. This service continues to provide a vital service with a charm that reflects the community’s character. 

Are you interested in pursuing innovative transportation solutions in your community? Check out the Thriving Communities Transportation Toolkit to learn more about the MI Trolley and other similar projects >

Downtown Decorations, a Main Street America Allied Member, is this quarter’s Main Spotlight advertiser. For more information about what they do to support Main Street organizations, click here.