News 14 Carolina’s Kate Gaier has more on the Charlotte Trolley and plans for the upcoming museum.
CHARLOTTE -- The historic Charlotte Trolley is almost ready to roll once again, and this time, it will come with a new museum in South End.
Crews are currently still working on the museum, which is set to open in December and cost more than $1 million. The trolley itself will share tracks with the light rail, running during off-peak hours. It will cover the area from Atherton Mill up to Ninth Street with three extra stops besides the ones the light rail already makes.
"We had a sense of loss,” said James Mathis, director of Historic South End. “This neighborhood was excited about the trolley, they supported the trolley. We loved to have visitors come down here."
Mathis says he knows the trolley will be an added bonus to the area because of how the light rail has boosted business.
Mathis says he knows the trolley will be an added bonus to the area because of how the light rail has boosted business.
"We've had to change a little bit on Saturdays and Sundays to be open more,” he said. “Which is a good thing."
The county, Charlotte Trolley and community donations are helping to fund the new museum.
“Many neighborhoods in Charlotte are actually grown and developed around streetcars and trolleys," said Ron Tober, executive director of Charlotte Trolley. “The light rail is a modern version of what the streetcars that once ran here in Charlotte.”
The trolley is planned to begin running again next week.