Chicago plans to stop free trolley service in 2009

[November 04, 2008]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Chicago is ending its free trolley service next year.

City officials said Monday that it's a move to cut costs and estimate a savings of $1.7 million a year.

The red San Francisco-style trolley cars, heavily used by tourists, stop at several of the city's most well-known attractions like Navy Pier and the Field Museum.

Last year, over 700,000 riders took the trolley. So far this year, more than 900,000 have taken advantage of the service.

A city survey shows 88 percent of the trolleys' users are visitors to Chicago.

A Chicago Department of Transportation spokesman says the free trolleys are a valuable service but that they're nonessential.

The free transportation system began in 2000. The trolleys will go out of service Jan. 4.

[Associated Press]

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