After giving the Loop Trolley a try, I'd venture that whether you like it, love it or question what the point of it is will measure out equally between how you've felt about the project all along and the actual ride.
For locals, actually getting to board the line has been a long time coming. Permitting issues, millions of dollars of investment, construction delays, vandalism: it's all been overcome to get the system to where it is today: a pair of streetcars running a short 2.2 mile route from the northern edge of Forest Park through The Loop.
Enthusiasts and tourists will find a lot to enjoy. The operators are friendly ambassadors for the neighborhood and professional in their operation, while the vintage trolley cars currently in service are undeniably charming and beautifully crafted. There are more than enough dedicated stops along the route to make the service somewhat useful too, including several connections to Metro bus and rail. Even if you're not riding, it's hard not to notice how The Loop feels better when the trolley rolls through. Pedestrians seem to perk up as the streetcars lumber by, waving, smiling and capturing clips for social. The cheerfulness feels timeless.
The generally positive feeling isn't to suggest that the the initial roll-out of the system has been without a few shortcomings though. There really isn't a fixed schedule and don't expect to be able to track the anticipated arrival or departure times. The streetcars are as beholden to traffic as other vehicles and haven't implemented a tracker (that I'm aware of). Getting a ticket to ride was, unexpectedly, the most off-putting part of the experience. Although each stop has a ticket machine, several were out of service (on a route that only has 10 stations...). There are other ways to pay, but not being able to print a ticket from one of the new machines without walking to another station is a poor first impression.
Overall, the trolley isn't quite a "must-do" yet, but it's a safe "should-do" experience. For $2 per 2-hour pass, it's well worth cruising The Loop and its surroundings. read more