Downtown Fresno file photo

Fresno’s long-anticipated trolley, named “The Hop,” will launch next week after an announcement from Mayor Jerry Dyer in an event hosted Wednesday by The Maddy Institute. 

Dyer proposed the trolley system in May 2022 during the State of the City address. The free service is intended to serve nightlife hotspots.

For a business to thrive after the 9-5 work day, Dyer explained that accessibility is needed to get people downtown, aside from planned housing.

ArtHop’s success every first Thursday of the month brings foot traffic of around 15,000 people to Downtown Fresno. Without adding much detail, Dyer said the trolleys will launch next week.

Art Hop is next Thursday, Nov. 2. 

The trolley would run from the Brewery District north through South Stadium to the Cultural Arts District, going on to stops in the Tower District and Fresno City College reaching all the way north to Campus Pointe near Fresno State. 

As part of The Maddy Institute’s Maddy Associates Speaker Series, Mayor Dyer and Downtown Fresno Partnership President and CEO Elliot Balch gave some insight into the total of $300 million pledged for the City of Fresno’s downtown revitalization.

Aside from news about the trolley, Mayor Dyer reiterated the importance of a pipeline of new housing. The former downtown CVS will make way for 462 units and the former JC Penney will have 162 units. With the new housing, 2,000 additional parking stalls will be added in the area, Dyer said.

With $50 million from the state, Fresno will fund an engineering analysis for downtown and Chinatown revitalization. The examination will be used for studies on infrastructure and how to revamp each respective area. 

“When infrastructure happens, housing will follow. Retail, restaurants and entertainment will come in quick,” Dyer said.