Two of the Fresno Hop trolleys on display Friday at the service's launch. Photo by Estela Anahi Jaramillo

Fresno revelers have a new way to get to some of the most popular entertainment districts in the city.

At Thursday’s Art Hop event, the City of Fresno launched its new FresnoHop Trolley Service, a free transportation option to explore the city’s nightlife.

The FresnoHop trolleys will operate Thursdays from 5 p.m. to midnight and from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

The service will connect Fresno State’s Campus Pointe to the Brewery and Cultural Arts Districts in Downtown Fresno, with stops at Fresno City College and the Tower District along the way.

 

Trolleys will depart every hour on the hour from two key locations—Campus Pointe and Tower District at the Tower Theater, with hourly departures from each stop along the route.

Each of the three buses cost about $280,000. They run on diesel, have Wi-Fi and a capacity of 32 passengers.

Each trolley will take around 40 minutes to complete a route one-way.

Mayor Jerry Dyer said the trolley will attract more people to the downtown area, especially as the area’s population grows. It is meant to provide a safe option for people who have been drinking to get around.

“It’s all about exposure and awareness and exposing city college students, folks at Campus Pointe and students from Fresno State to the Downtown,” Dyer said.