Electric Trolley Service Coming To Downtown San Pedro, LA Waterfront

SAN PEDRO, CA — Electric trolleys will soon be roaming around San Pedro, another infrastructural improvement along the waterfront city that is currently renovating its Downtown area and is also set to take part in the 2028 Olympics.

The new trolleys will join the four "iconic" red trolleys that already offer free transportation to the San Pedro community and take people through the Downtown area and the Los Angeles waterfront, according to officials with the Downtown San Pedro Business Improvement District, also known as Discover San Pedro.

The new trolleys are expected to operate through the historic downtown area, taking people to attractions such as the San Pedro Fish Market, Cruise Terminal, West Harbor and the Battleship Iowa.

“These new electric trolleys are more than just a mode of transportation—they’re a tool for economic development,” Yolanda Regalado, Board Chair of Discover San Pedro, said. “They’ll move people efficiently through our district, encouraging visitors to shop, dine, and explore more of what San Pedro has to offer.”

Cal State Northridge, in partnership with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, awarded the Downtown San Pedro Business Improvement District with a $470,000 grant to launch the electric shuttle service.

"The funding arrives at a pivotal moment for Los Angeles, as the region prepares to modernize mobility ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games," according to officials with the Downtown San Pedro Business Improvement District, which said there is a growing urgency to provide clean and accessible transit as the games near.

The new trolleys are expected to be in service before the end of 2025 and are expected to be a big hit, according to officials, who said the red trolleys have quickly become a "beloved and recognizable mascot" in the downtown area.

San Pedro, especially the renowned Downtown area, has been going through major renovations over the last few years. City officials last week announced it would be moving forward with a decades-in-the-making plan to establish a 6,200-capacity amphitheater along the waterfront that is expected to rival Long Beach's upcoming venue.

In addition, San Pedro is gearing up to host multiple sailing events for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles — the first time since the Port of Los Angeles served as a backdrop in the 1932 games.

Currently, Los Angeles city officials have been exploring the possibility of establishing a water taxi service between Long Beach and San Pedro as an "innovative" transportation service for residents, workers and tourists wanting to watch the Olympic games.