While much has been made of the Maine Eastern Railroad's return to the Midcoast, the region has another new mode of transportation.

During a joint meeting Monday, Aug. 11, the new trolley service, which is funded in part by several local towns, was one of the main topics.

Newcastle Superintendent Steve Reynolds said for a pilot program, the trolley that connects the Twin Villages has had more success than the one that travels back and forth from Boothbay to Newcastle.

“The ridership on the Wiscasset Flyer has been between 100 and 118 people,” he said. “The trolley to Boothbay hasn't seen a lot of riders. They are averaging three people Friday, four on Saturdays and one on Sunday.”

The around-town trolley, which ferries passengers throughout the Twin Villages has seen more action this summer, Reynolds said.

“So far, it's averaged 23 people on board, with 10 people (on average) on Sundays,” he said. “I think the biggest problem, so far, is that no one realizes it's free.”

Spreading the word of the trolley will be a major focus into the future, Twin Village Alliance Board Chairman Mary Kate Reny said.

“It's one of those things where people won't know about it until it's here,” she said. “(With a budget of $31,000) about $27,000 went to (Darcy Knof of Country Coach Charters) for driving. What was left went into signage, and making the maps.”

Reny said the costs of advertising the trolley weren't always factored-in, but the trolley was still able to be advertised.

But, having the towns involved shell out money earlier allowed the TVA an easier path to raising funds from throughout the region.

“Because we had that commitment, it made it a lot easier for us to sell this (to businesses),” she said.

Jaimie Logan, Governor's account executive for the Department of Economic and Community Development, said the ability for towns such as Newcastle, Damariscotta, Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor to band together has been nothing short of an accomplishment.

“This is a big win for the region,” she said. “I haven't seen that level of collaboration between communities.”

While nothing is set in stone, plans for next year might involve dropping Sunday trolley service and instead focus on Thursdays, which Reny said were stronger days in terms of visitors.