Indy Trolley expands, thrives post-pandemic
Concert-goers can again arrive in throwback style to the free performances at Federal Hill Commons in Noblesville this summer.
For the fifth year, the city has re-signed a contract with Indy Trolley, of Indianapolis, to provide shuttle service from parking garages and lots downtown to the park across the White River.
The shuttle makes four stops between 6:30-10:30 p.m.: the Hamilton County Garage, City Hall, Riverview Hospital, and State Road 38 and Nixon Street.
For Indy Trolley, the continuing service is a lesson in perseverance and patience following the Coronavirus pandemic outbreak in 2020 that nearly grounded non-essential group transportation.
Indy Trolley President Kristie Carter bought the company during the pandemic, two years after its founder died. After visiting San Francisco, Noblesville real estate broker Jack Carr Boyd started the service in 2012. Boyd thought Indianapolis could use an alternative to standard limousines and party buses for weddings, birthday parties and other events.
But the coronavirus curtailed many of Indy Trolley’s core services, like fixed route brewery tours In Indianapolis because it was too risky to put strangers together. Boyd’s family was trying to run the company from out of state when they sold it to Carter.
Carter shifted focus to private parties in which everyone was acquainted, bought two more buses, doubling the inventory, and waited out the worst of the pandemic
“We prepared for the long haul,” said Carter, who owns Aadvanced Limousines. “We tried to be smart about it.”
As pandemic restrictions receded the company expanded and sought more opportunities in the suburbs.
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Indy Trolley now offers rides from parking lots to the 3-year-old Peony Festival in Seminary Park in Noblesville, the Christkindl Market in Carmel and Christmas lights tours in Fishers, Carmel, Noblesville, Greenwood, Avon and Danville.
Noblesville Assistant Parks Director Amber Mink said the eight summer concerts draw an average of about 4,000 people each and the tours buses ferry hundreds of spectators.
The Noblesville Board of Public Works this week approved a $20,160 contract with Indy Trolley for service this summer.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indy Trolley expands, thrives post-pandemic
