NANAIMO — The Town of Ladysmith is selling its four-year-old trolley to the City of Langford for nearly $100,000 less than it paid in 2009.
The unit 103 Supreme Trolley Bus was purchased from an Edmonton company using approximately $180,000 of taxpayer money.
Ladysmith businesses, service clubs and community members pitched in approximately $200,000 for operating costs.
The trolley was popular with the town at first but eventually garnered criticism for its annual operating costs, which were $150,000 in 2012.
Now the trolley and all its equipment is being sold for $82,000 to Langford, which is replacing one of its two existing trolleys. A Town of Ladysmith staff report says the price is reasonable because the trolley has been in constant service for four years and is considered a surplus asset because Ladysmith is now being served by B.C. Transit.
Revenue from the sale will be put back into the same community gas tax fund that initially funded the project.
Ladysmith Mayor Rob Hutchins said city staff are negotiating the deal and he isn't sure when the trolley will be sent to Langford.
Coun. Bill Drysdale said $82,000 is a reasonable price because if the trolley had been sold to a private entity — rather than to another government agency — the town would have to repay nearly $100,000 to the Union of B.C. Municipalities.
