ST. LOUIS —The Loop Trolley starts another season Thursday, as the iconic streetcar resumes its route through University City and St. Louis.

Running Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., the free trolley offers residents and visitors an accessible way to explore Forest Park, the Delmar Loop and surrounding neighborhoods.

Now entering its fourth consecutive season under Bi-State Development, officials say the Loop Trolley is more reliable than ever. The $51 million streetcar system temporarily closed in 2019 after repeated service interruptions and low ridership.

“When they took over the operation, it wasn’t doing well,” said Gregory Rose, City Manager of University City. “You never knew if it was going to show up. And if it did show up, you weren’t certain that you were going to get to your destination because of a breakdown. Well, all of that has changed.”

Delmar Loop, Forest Park, and DeBaliviere Avenue. Riders can hop on without a ticket or reservation to visit local landmarks, restaurants, and shops — even receiving discounts from a growing number of businesses in the Loop through the Trolley passport app. 

“It's more than just offering a buy one, get one float at Fitz's… it offers another reason to ride the trolley,” said Samantha Smugala, Executive Director of the East Loop Community Improvement District. “We're offering a unique experience that is fun, that gives people another way to explore the Delmar Loop and more…because I truly see the trolley as a connector.”

Pedestrians, cyclists and motorists along trolley route are encouraged follow these tips to stay safe when the Loop Trolley is in operation:

●        Vehicles cannot be parked on the trolley rails and must be completely within the white parking lines.

●        Illegal parking will result in fines and/or towing.

●        Do not stand, walk, ride or drive on the white diagonal striping along the trolley route.

●        The trolley cars operate in traffic along with other vehicles and share the same lanes at times.

●        The trolley cars are not able to swerve or steer to avoid pedestrians, cyclists, or other vehicles.

●        Pedestrians should cross the street only at the marked crosswalks.

●        The trolley cars operate on the rails in both directions, so always look both ways before crossing the street. 

You can find general information about the Loop Trolley as well as Frequently Asked Questions on the website. Major Loop Trolley service disruptions will be posted on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/looptrolley.