By Dolores Sauca Lorusso

After the Hull-O Trolley canceled this summer’s service because of a loss of grant funding and increases in operating expenses, the Hull Nantasket Chamber of Commerce has asked the Hull Redevelopment Authority for a grant to operate the trolley during the Endless Summer Waterfront Festival on Sept. 9.

On Monday Aug. 14, the HRA met with Chamber President Adrian Muir, who requested $3,000 for the trolley during the event, which runs from noon to 5 p.m.

Muir said he understood that the “economics for one day are difficult, when the cost to run the trolley for a season of nine two-day weekends and Endless Summer is $35,000.” Therefore, funding of the trolley for the entire summer breaks down to $1,842 per day.

“I want to help integrate transportation but would rather not spend this money on a five hour event,” HRA member Bartley Kelly said.

Muir said that when the trolley operated people were picked up at the ferry and moved through town, but most riders were from Hull.

“The majority of ridership has been local…for instance, riders from the alphabets would hop on,” said Muir, adding the trolley does get some visitors who ride the ferry over from Boston. The Chamber actively markets the festival outside of town. “For a number of years, we have taken a full-page ad in OnTray Magazine, which is distributed throughout the city of Boston and South Shore.”

Kelly suggested the possibility of utilizing the existing Hull town bus and offering it free to riders on Sept. 9; Muir was open to exploring this option as a mode of transportation for Endless Summer especially since it is likely to provide the ability to get to more neighborhoods than the trolley has been able to service in the past.

“Some people have never been on the town bus and may take it for the first time. This may have a double positivity of exposing people to the town bus…great way to educate people about the bus service they have to use,” said HRA Chair Dennis Zaia, who added that he is an advocate for improved transportation options in town. “I want to spend money in a manner that benefits the community and makes sense…great option is to partner with the existing bus service.”

HRA member Adrienne Paquin said she is “all for supporting, but want to use the money in the best way possible…love the idea of connecting with the bus; need to understand the feasibility and logistics of making it happen.”

The HRA tasked Muir and the Chamber to determine the logistics and cost for arranging a free day of bus service. Muir will return to present his findings to the HRA on Monday Aug. 21 and members will decide what level of support they can provide to assist with transportation for Endless Summer.