Downtown Joliet's New Shuttle Bus Has Arrived: 'Suitable For Year-Round Use'

JOLIET, IL — Now that summer is here, the city of Joliet has debuted its brand-new little shuttle bus that will give people rides around the downtown city center. The city of Joliet had its shuttle bus built over the winter and now it's ready to give people rides — free of charge.

Last September, Joliet Patch reported that Joliet City Manager Beth Beatty was recommending the Joliet City Council purchase a new electric tram from MotoElectric in an amount not to exceed $95,000. "It is anticipated that the City will be reimbursed for this purchase through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant administered by the Department of Energy," Beatty advised the Council.

This week, Joliet Patch reached out to city of Joliet officials with a list of questions after spotting the shuttle bus parked in front of the Joliet Slammers Stadium on Saturday during the Joliet Public Library's annual Star Wars Day festivities.

The following question and answer interview was conducted with Jeff Price, city of Joliet fleet services director. Additionally, City Hall officials pointed out that the vehicle is no longer being referred to as a tram, but rather a shuttle bus.

Joliet Patch: "When is it operating and in use now?"

Price: "The shuttle is currently being utilized for special events. It was used during Star Wars Day and will be in service again for the upcoming IHSA Baseball Tournament. The feedback so far has been overwhelmingly positive, and several other venues—including the Joliet Area Historical Museum, the Old Joliet Prison, and the Heritage Corridor Destinations group—have expressed interest in using the shuttle for tours as well."

Joliet Patch: "Is there a certain location people need to go to get a ride on it?"

Price: "The route is dependent on the location of the event and/or tour."

Joliet Patch: "Where is its general route of travel?"

Price: "The route is dependent on the location of the event and / or tour."

Patch: "Is it free to ride and what is its total seating capacity?"

Price response: "Yes, the shuttle is free to ride. It has a maximum capacity of 15 people, including the driver. An added benefit is that it’s climate-controlled with both air conditioning and heat, making it suitable for year-round use."

Patch: "Are there any plans to add a second or third tram so that several can run continuously during larger downtown events?"

Price: "At this time, there are no plans to add additional shuttles. We are first assessing how the public responds to the current service. The City was awarded a federal grant specifically designated for electric, urban transportation, which covered 100 percent of the cost of the current shuttle."

Related Joliet Patch coverage:

Tram City USA? Mayor D'Arcy Wins Electric Tram For Downtown Joliet | Joliet, IL Patch

Trams For Downtown Joliet? Beth Beatty Blasted By Patch Readers

Joliet Buying $95,000 Motorized Tram For Downtown Joliet, Vote Nears