Dodger Trolley Service to Open Friday

FYI, just called the Dodgers customer service line, and confirmed the service IS continuous. So if you if leave early at times, like me, trolleys run for the whole length of the game.

Prior to the official announcement, I’d more or less made my peace with the city footing the bill for the shuttle, but it is tacky of the Dodgers to euphemistically refer to the shuttle being “Presented by the City of Los Angeles”. I’m all for increasing public transit options to Chavez Ravine, but they should give due credit where due–it’s not entirely obvious that the team has done much more than agreeing to the concept and issuing a press release.

Tackier still is that insipid logo. I can’t decide if it’s better or worse that they are wrapping the minibuses to match–either way, it really dumbs-down what ought to be a serious game-day alternative. It would have been better to rent the double-decker Hollywood tourist buses to really create a party vibe.

my $.02

The more modes of transportation the better - nothing really to complain about here. My 6 year old will think it’s fun.

Better than nothing, but this is the bare minimum that should be provided.

The Gold Line should tunnel under the hill and take attendees up to the stadium subway style. It’s only about a mile. The station and spur would be open only on game days 2 hours prior and after the game.

P.S. It is a bus, not a trolley. It doesn’t troll for anything. Maybe it’s a “combustey”.

well, it may be a shuttle bus, but the name is appropriate if you know Dodger history — Brooklyn Trolley Dodger history, that is.

The Giants have a Muni stop, Oakland Coliseum has BART, Anaheim has Metrolink and the San Diego Trolley gets within walking distance of Petco Park. And I haven’t even mentioned all of the stadium-based subway and light rail stations outside of California. I see no reason why the Dodgers can’t have rail.

This will do for the time being, however.

I’ll be taking my 8yr. old grandson, a pal of his, his dad and I to a game with the D-backs this Sat night. We’re driving down from Santa Barbara in the afternoon and plan to get a late lunch/snack at Phillipe’s before we catch the “trolley”. This will be the boys’1st Major League game (I remember my 1st at about the same age at Ebbets Field during WW2). Yeah, I’m still a Dodger fan. I have emphysema and will appreciate being dropped off behind the ‘will-call’ booth behind center field. Hopefully this will be a fun experience for all of us. The shuttle is a great idea…I hope the ‘glitches’ will be worked out by 2 August. GO, BLUE! BTW, Can anyone describe the Union Station parking routine and just WHERE on Alameda the Trolley will stop?? Thanks if you can help.

Thanks Eric, for the help. We will only be parking for 3-4hrs. or so. I would like a lot where I wouldn’t have to walk too far. Can one walk off the lot onto the Alameda St. sidewalk reasonably near where the bus stops? I’m O.K. for a block or so if I don’t have to go uphill. As I recall, Union Station is pretty flat. Perhaps my ‘ride’ can drop me off at the bus-stop and meet me after they park?

Well, here is an update on our ‘Dodger Trolley’ experience: First, the White ‘Trolley’ buses depart from Union Station to the LEFT as you exit the front doors of the station; NOT on Alameda Street as previously reported. We caught one of the first two or three coaches that were waiting in line about an hour before game time. It was about a 20 minute ride to behind center field, but somewhat PAST the “Will-Call” booths. No problem picking up our tickets and we all enjoyed the game. Afterwards, the hike from Loge Level was all downhill and the buses were lined up loading passengers by the top of the 9th inning. Our bus was PACKED FULL and the trip back to Union Station was somewhat longer, it seemed, than the ride to the stadium, but certainly less stressful than driving it. Parking charges at Union Station were $14.00, not much better than at Dodger Stadium, but a MUCH shorter walk. We were back in Santa Barbara by 12:30AM. Many (most)of the passengers on the bus were appreciative of this shuttle service. I can vouch for the fact that WE certainly were. Manny Ramirez and Casey Blake even whacked their first Dodger home runs for us. WAY TO GO DODGERS!