Cutline: Steve McEnroe/Journal staff

This is the first of two new red and green City View Trolleys that will be serving tourists and locals.

RAPID CITY - Rick Livesey and Mike Howe showed up for Friday morning's ribbon cutting and inaugural voyage of the City View Trolley wearing matching T-shirts bearing the slogan, "Nice Trolleys. Thanks Deb."

The shirts recognized Alderwoman Deb Hadcock for her role in bringing the new trolleys to Rapid City.

"I think it's great. Anything that advances the city forward I'm in favor of," Livesey said. "I think it's really cool for people who are staying here in a hotel or motel, if they're a little tired and want to go bumming around, they can jump on that and burn up the evening nicely."

Approximately 40 people attended Friday's ceremony in Memorial Park, and many took advantage of being the first riders before trolley service officially opens for business on Monday, July 2.

The city purchased two green-on-red trolleys, although only one will be operating at a time. They are air-conditioned, seat 30 and include a wheelchair lift and space for two wheelchairs.

Two removable panels on the sides create an open-air ride, and brass rail inserts keep people from jumping out. The trolleys have a curtain that can be rolled down and sealed when it rains.

Mayor Jim Shaw thanked the Rapid City Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Chamber of Commerce and individuals in the tourism and visitor industry and downtown business community that had the foresight to recognize the value of the trolleys.

"This is an exciting concept for Rapid City," Shaw said.

Shaw also singled out Hadcock for her initiative and determination.

"Some time back, she came to me and we visited about some things in Rapid City and she said, 'Jim, if you want me to get involved I'll be glad to help. But I get things done, so don't tell me to do it if you don't expect me to see it all the way through,'" Shaw said.

Hadcock downplayed her role in the process. She said there were many people involved in the trolley committee, and efforts of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, the city's public works staff and the Rapid Transit staff were all instrumental.

"It takes a team to get things done," she said.

The trolley will operate on two routes. The day route will operate Monday through Saturday from 9:20 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. on an hourlong loop with stops at points of interest such as downtown, the Journey Museum, Stavkirke Chapel, Storybook Island, Dinosaur Park, Canyon Lake Park and the Cleghorn Springs fish hatchery.

The evening route will operate Monday through Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 9:05 p.m. focused around the core downtown area in a Main Street, Fifth Street, North Street and West Boulevard loop, connecting residents and visitors to businesses in downtown Rapid City where they can shop and dine.

A $1-per-person fare is proposed, although the fee allows riders to use the trolley all day. That means a family of five could park their car in one spot, then spend $5 to ride the trolley all day to various points of interest in the city.

On the daytime loop, a prerecorded narrative will provide information about various stops, triggered by global positioning satellite.

The name, "City View Trolley," was chosen through a name-the-trolley contest during the Black Hills Home Builders Home Show in the spring.

Two women, Lisa Sissenstein and Vesta Johnson, separately submitted the winning name and earned unlimited rides for the rest of this year's trolley season.

Neither woman can remember the inspiration for the name.

"Great minds think alike," Johnson said.

Both women said the trolleys will enhance the city and both are excited to ride it this summer.

"I think the trolleys are an excellent idea. I've ridden them in San Antonio and Las Vegas, and I just think they're great," Johnson said. "I will definitely be using this one. It will be a great addition."

The trolley will operate seasonally from late spring until early fall.

The Rapid City Convention and Visitors Bureau has prepared a brochure about the trolley including a map and stop schedule.

For more information, call the Rapid City Trolley information line at 394-6631 or visit www.rapidride.org.

Contact Scott Aust at 394-8415, or scott.aust@rapidcityjournal.com