Company proposes city transit system

The Branson Board of Aldermen on July 23 heard a presentation from Branson Trolley & Transportation, which has offered to operate between 20 and 25 trolleys, five buses and 10 multipurpose vehicles for package delivery and passenger transit.

Trolley routes would run west to east from Celebration City to Branson Landing and north to south from Expressway Lane to Safari Road. Buses would give rides to outlying attractions, such as Silver Dollar City, Showboat Branson Belle, Shepherd of the Hills Theater and Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery.

Fares starting at $1, advertising and investments would fund the transit system, and there would be no cost to the city, according to the company’s proposal. The company has requested that the board apply for a federal planning grant to test the trolleys before moving forward with the system.

The board recommended that the company meet with city administration to provide more details about the proposal, and the city will report back to the board.

Also during the meeting, the board gave final approval to a bill that allows Alliance Gas Energy Inc. to sell its natural gas franchise agreement with the city to another supplier, Southern Missouri Natural Gas.

The new supplier is continuing to pursue the necessary requirements with the Missouri Public Service Commission to complete the switch.

Southern Missouri Natural Gas has 8,000 customers in an area from Rogersville to West Plains and from Marshfield to Ava.

This story originally appeared in SBJ’s July 25 free e-news Daily Update. Click here to register.