Fort Myers Beach tram, downtown trolleys making seasonal returns this month

Luis Zambrano, Fort Myers News-Press
·2 min read

Some good news when it comes to the daily challenges of traffic in Southwest Florida, which as those of us who live here full-time know, it's about to get even more challenging.

Another season is underway and that means snowbirds and tourists are coming here in droves. Correction. Driving here in their cars and trucks in droves.

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To help relieve some of that stress with getting around, Lee County announced the return of the Fort Myers Beach tram (after a one-year absence due to Hurricane Ian) and the downtown Fort Myers trolleys. Both of these alternate forms of transportation are scheduled to begin service on Nov. 16.

Here's what we know:

Free Fort Myers Beach Tram resumes operating

LeeTran resumes its free beach tram on Fort Myers Beach on Nov. 16.

The service will start at 9:30 a.m. daily at Fort Myers Beach Public Library and end with the last tram leaving Bowditch Point Park at approximately 10:35 p.m.

The tram will run every 35 minutes and seven days a week.

What are the downtown Fort Myers trolleys?

In a press release from Lee County, LeeTran trolleys are described as a fun and convenient way to enjoy shopping, dining, and entertainment, without having to drive and park in downtown Fort Myers.

What areas of downtown Fort Myers do the trolleys cover?

  • The blue and gold line trolleys provide free access to and from the historic downtown Fort Myers River District.

  • The blue line runs through downtown as the route loops from the Oasis Condominiums to West First Street and McGregor Boulevard along First Street, then goes to Rosa Parks Transportation Center, Fowler Street, and Second Street.

  • The gold line connects North Fort Myers to downtown Fort Myers.

Will these services affect schedules?

LeeTran routes 40, 50, 130, and 140 will experience slight changes to their associated schedules, according to the release.

Details about LeeTran operations, updated schedules, and maps can be found at RideLeeTran.com.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Fort Myers Beach tram making comeback after halted by hurricane ian