By Debby Woodin

dwoodin@joplinglobe.com

Joplin residents who want to voice opinions or learn more about a proposal to expand the city-operated trolley service and change the fare will have their opportunity.

The city will hold two public comment sessions on the proposal Thursday, Aug. 14. The sessions are set for 1:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. in the basement of City Hall, 602 S. Main St.

The 1:30 p.m. session will take place during a meeting of the Joplin Area Transportation Study group, which does regional planning.

City Council members have heard a proposal by trolley director Robert Lolley to add two new routes to serve the west and south sides of town. Those routes, along with the current one that loops Main Street and Range Line from 15th Street north, would intersect so trolley users could get about anywhere in the city by changing trolleys.

In addition to stops along the designated routes, the new system would allow passengers to request pickup or drop-off at their home or another location within three-quarters of a mile of the trolley route. Riders who need that type of service could call to schedule an appointment up to two hours before they need to be picked up.

Lolley told the council the availability of daily trolley service would reduce the demand for rides on the Metro Area Paratransit System (MAPS), which requires scheduling further in advance, serves residents outside Joplin and sometimes requires a long wait for service.

MAPS charges $4, and the trolley charges $1 per ride. Having the trolley go off its route for a pickup would cost $2. MAPS rides for children are $1, and trolley service is free when the child is accompanied by an adult.

Certain riders could apply for a transit ID card, which would entitle them to rides on MAPS or the trolley for half price. To be eligible, an applicant would have to be 60 or older, disabled or a Medicare recipient.

Monthly passes for the trolley also are available at $30 or $15 for those who qualify for half fare.

Lolley told the council recently that the trolley system could be expanded with no extra allocation of city money for vehicles because he could use money currently allocated for the replacement of MAPS vans to buy the two vehicles needed for the two new trolley routes. He recommended buying large van-type vehicles rather than buses like the one that currently serves the existing trolley route.

Proposed routes

One of the new trolley routes would loop Main Street and Maiden Lane from Fourth to 32nd streets and include a stop at the Wal-Mart store on Seventh Street near Schifferdecker Avenue. The other would loop 20th and 32nd streets from McClelland Boulevard to Duquesne Road.