We all love the sight of the Anna Maria Island trolley traveling up and down our beautiful island. But it seems some of us take it for granted and are not willing to invest any hard-earned cash in supporting it.
The most recent edition of The Islander carries a story about how no one apparently wants to shell out for the in-trolley advertising system, except Beach Bistro, which does at least benefit from people traveling to and from its location.
The report reads: The advertising campaign for the Manatee Trolley has proven to be less than a stellar success.
Manatee County Area Transit division manager Ralf Heseler said that only one advertiser — the Beach Bistro restaurant in Holmes Beach — took out a $384 12-week ad on the trolley’s interior, scrolling, electronic message board.
The sum of advertising is a far cry from the $50,000 officials hoped to reap annually.
Heseler addressed the Island Transportation Planning Organization Jan. 12. The group is comprised of mayors representing Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach.
The Manatee Trolley on Anna Maria Island offers free fares to riders. From Oct. 1, 2007 through Sept. 31, 2008, there were 474,782 riders on the bus, which travels from Coquina Beach to the Anna Maria City Pier 365 days a year from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Cost of the trolley operation is about $1 million a year. Federal and state grants pay a portion of the tab for its operation, as well as Manatee County.
Last year, Heseler said, the operation faced a $50,000 shortfall. The three Island cities then ponied up $8,000 each to keep the trolley free for riders, with the Manatee County Tourist Development Council picking up the rest of the needed funding.
The agreement with the cities included reimbursement if the advertising program proved successful, which it has not to date.
Read the rest of the story here
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