Bay County Transportation Planning Organization (TPO), located in Panama City, Fla., has recently taken delivery of a new ARBOC Specialty Vehicles Spirit of America Low Floor Trolley. Bay County TPO is the local intergovernmental transportation board for the Bay County area.
The American made trolley seats 33 passengers with additional space for two wheelchairs positions. The 34-foot low-floor unit features a Braun ADA fold out ramp, a stop request system, front and rear-mounted Twin Vision Mobilite LED destination signs, oak slat seats, wood grain altro flooring, dual rooftop Thermo King A/C units, arched top windows, golden bronze powder coated interior stations and an exterior trolley bell.
The trolley system is known as Bay Town Trolley and provides affordable, reliable and safe travel in Bay County. Service hours are Monday through Saturday 6 am - 8 pm. The trolley route for this unit will mainly be throughout downtown Panama City.
“The Spirit of America trolley definitely helps to increase ridership on the designated routes,” said Lamar Hobbs, transit operation coordinator for the Bay County Board of County Commissioners.
After Hurricane Michael caused significant damage to their facilities and fleet in the fall of 2018, Bay County TPO desperately needed to start rebuilding its fleet and assist in any way possible to get the Panama City residents moving again throughout the hurricane ravaged city. This trolley is the first new unit purchased since the Hurricane devastated the area.
“We are pleased that Bay County TPO reached out to Specialty Vehicles for their fleet needs and we were able to help them with this step of the rebuilding process,” added Nancy Munoz, CEO and founder of Specialty Vehicles.
The city has received very positive feedback from the community and view the trolley as something positive for the city after all that it’s been through with Hurricane Michael.
