BRADENTON BEACH – If the Old Town Tram continues providing rides within the city, it will do so without the financial support of the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA).
At its Dec. 6 meeting, the CRA board voted unanimously to discontinue funding of the free park-and-ride service it began subsidizing in November 2020 at a cost of $52,000 per year.
Using two electric golf carts, the tram was launched as a pilot program to help address the lack of parking on Bridge Street. It is partially funded by advertising sales.
Annual funding for the service was cut from the city’s 2023-24 budget, but CRA board members agreed at a Sept. 6 meeting to a $10,000 expenditure to keep it going until the end of 2023.
That temporary funding was based on the understanding that Joshua LaRose, owner of Sarasota-based Easy Parking Group and provider of the tram service, and CRA Chairman Ralph Cole would work together to look at options to make the service self-supporting.
One of those options included LaRose securing additional advertising from the businesses that benefit from having customers brought to their doorsteps.
LaRose said at the Dec. 6 meeting that he spoke to local business owners about advertising on the tram, but without success.
“People offered to donate $50-$100 a month to keep it going,” LaRose said. “They’re saying right now how slow it’s been over the summer and they don’t have the funds to do a full advertising.”
LaRose offered an option to save money.
“I can cut the hours and days back out of season, to maybe four to five days a week and maybe start a little bit later in the afternoon. That would dramatically bring down the cost,” LaRose said. “If we did a later start time and less days a week, we could probably do it with the advertisers we have now. I could keep one car going.”
Commissioner Jan Vosburgh has been an opponent of financial support for the tram service.
“I think we should discontinue it,” she said. “I don’t think it’s up to the taxpayers to pay for this.”
Cole echoed that sentiment.
“Businesses benefit the most from it,” Cole said. “Those are the people that need to step up to the plate.”
Commissioner Jake Spooner suggested the possibility of having the tram in service during the busier times of the year.
LaRose said in season the tram was giving nearly 8,000 rides a month.
“It’s encouraging that you said you could survive on its own with one car,” Chappie said. “We haven’t been satisfied. It was worth a shot. I’d like to see you do it on your own.”
LaRose indicated that he will likely continue the tram service with one cart.
“This fellow took over and is trying to support our businesses,” Bradenton Beach resident Jim Hassett said during public comment. “I think his business needs to be supported.”
In addition to board members Chappie, Cole, Spooner and Vosburgh, member David Bell was in attendance. Marilyn Maro phoned into the meeting. Member Ed Chiles was absent with excuse.
