Campers and day users at the always-popular San Clemente State Beach are among those expected to benefit from a trolley route the city will try starting in March.
The service will run from the pier to the state beach and back, but also connect riders to the city’s most popular trolley route that travels from the San Clement Outlet mall, along Avenida Del Mar to the pier. That means someone camping at the beach doesn’t have to haul their often larger vehicles through town to visit restaurants, shops and beaches while vacationing at the campground.
The new route being piloted – it will stop at the San Clemente Senior Center near Del Mar and travel along El Camino Real – will also benefit locals who might grab lunch or shop along Del Mar and then head to beaches at the state park, officials said. It will also provide access to people who stay at hotels and motels along El Camino Real for getting to the city’s downtown and beaches.
The new trolley, which begins on March 11 and will run weekends through Memorial Day, was approved recently by the City Council as a way to help visitors and locals navigate the city without having to worry about driving or parking. The council, in December, also approved funding for another trolley that runs along Del Mar to continue on weekends through March.
“It was a pretty clear choice,” Mayor Chris Duncan said of choosing the southern route for the pilot. The council was also considering another route that would have sent trolleys into the Talega area of town.
“It connects an area of town without having to drive. We think this will be mutually beneficial. There will be more business coming to the downtown and more business from hotels along El Camino Real,” Duncan said.
The city has run trolleys since 2017 with grant assistance from the Orange County Transportation Agency, which funds about 90% of the cost. The pilot program, however, will be fully funded by the city and is expected to cost about $34,000. Most…
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