Chautauqua County's Public Facilities Committee meeting on May 19, 2025, highlighted a significant surge in trolley ridership, prompting calls for a full-time manager to oversee operations. Committee members reported receiving daily inquiries for trolley rentals, particularly for weddings, indicating a robust demand that exceeded initial projections of 10,000 riders, with actual numbers reaching 22,000.

The discussion revealed optimism about future ridership trends, despite a slight dip in the first quarter of 2025 attributed to harsh winter weather. Officials expressed confidence that as conditions improve, ridership will rebound, potentially matching or surpassing 2024 levels. The committee acknowledged the positive impact of advertising efforts, noting increased public awareness of the county's public transportation services.

In addition to ridership updates, the meeting addressed funding for the transit hub project, which has been in development since 2018. The committee detailed the financial contributions received, including $765,612 from state funds, $100,000 from ARPA funding, and a county contribution of $155,258, totaling over $1 million for the project. The discussion included a breakdown of expenses related to the hub's construction and remodeling efforts.

The meeting underscored the county's commitment to enhancing public transportation and infrastructure, with officials eager to capitalize on the growing interest in trolley services and the ongoing development of the transit hub. As the weather warms, stakeholders anticipate a revitalization of ridership, further solidifying the trolley's role in the community.