Anaheim, Calif. – June 15, 2001 – After several years of community planning efforts, the Anaheim Resort Transit service began initial operation. On June 15, 2001 the electric, stealth, portion of the Anaheim Resort Transit fleet was unveiled to the public at a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the Anaheim Convention Center. Greg Smith, General Manager of the Anaheim Convention Center, Shirley McCracken, Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Anaheim, and Paul Sanford, Chairman of the Anaheim Transportation Network, performed ribbon cutting rights during the opening ceremony.
The maiden voyage of the Anaheim Resort Transit service will be on June 28, when the Anaheim Convention Center hosted the National Square Dancers Convention. “With over 10,000 square dancers arriving in Anaheim for the weekend, our new electric tram service will be put into a real-world application”, said Greg Smith, Convention Center General Manager. Anaheim Convention Center trams represent the first phase of Anaheim Resort Transit operation. Full circulator service is slated to begin in January 2002. Development of the new Anaheim Resort Transit fleet was truly a community wide effort. This fleet will be comprised of ten electric buses and two electric trams that are owned by the City of Anaheim. The remainder of the fleet is comprised of 25 propane trolleys, which are owned by a local private transportation provider – Pacific Coast Sightseeing Tours and Charters, a Coach USA company.
Operation of the Anaheim Resort Transit fleet will be the responsibility of the Anaheim Transportation Network, a local non-profit transportation management association. This local association was formed as a grass-roots organization to act as a neutral third party to represent multiple interests of The Anaheim Resort™ community.
Over $8.2 million was raised by the community to put in place this unified resort-oriented guest transit system. Pacific Coast Sightseeing Tours and Charters contributed over $3 million toward this total, with acquisition of its propane- powered clean fuel fleet. The rest of the funding came from the Anaheim Public Utilities Anaheim Advantage Services, Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee, Air Quality Management District, and the State of California.
“Our vision for a comprehensive guest transportation service is becoming a reality”, said Anaheim Mayor Pro Tem Shirley McCracken. “With one of the largest electric fleets in the nation, Anaheim guests will travel quietly and in comfort”, Mayor Pro Tem continued.
The electric portion of the Anaheim Resort Transit fleet was manufactured locally. The electric trams were manufactured by Trams International of Pomona and integrated by ISE Research based in San Diego, Calif. Electric bus fleet manufacturer, EBus, Inc., headquarters are located in Downey, Calif. The propane vehicles owned by the Pacific Coast Sightseeing Tours were produced in the United States.
Contacts: City of Anaheim - Diana Kotler (714) 765- 5277, Anaheim Transportation Network - Laurie Smith (714) 563-5287, Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee - Phil Yenovkian (909) 396-3043
For electronic images of the Anaheim Resort Transit Fleet email your request to dkotler@anaheim.