During a Marco Island City Council meeting on Sept. 9, in response to numerous public comments against a proposed trolley/bus system , Councilman Richard Blonna told residents:
"It just amazes me as a former academic, a former professor, whose whole life was dedicated to exploring knowledge, gaining new ideas, and studying things for the purpose of gathering information — how anti-intellectual this group is, how afraid of information."
You can watch the entire meeting here .
"When we were insulted, I literally stood up and turned my back to them. I learned that from Cape Coral. I even said stand up, stand up. Turn your back to them. It needs to be recognized that we're not being heard," said Christine Dowell, a Marco Island resident.
Blonna's comments are in response to harsh opposition against a $206,000 pilot program, which would add multiple routes of public transportation to the island, with a goal of alleviating traffic and parking issues.
"I don't quite understand why a citizen, the taxpayer, should be supporting paying for the tourism and quite honestly, the tourists should be paying for this ... Or perhaps business owners that may benefit from this," said Mike Josephs, a full-time resident of Marco Island.
Since the announcement of the proposal, a petition to "Stop the Trolley" has grown to more than 500 signatures.
"The problem is that they're bringing this up when no one's here, they're going to spend $206,000 of my tax dollars. It will make traffic worse. Collier Boulevard is only two lanes wide. There is no place for a bus to stop. Parking's already a problem. Residents aren't going to use this. I'm not going to walk up and wait for a trolley. It's going to be for tourists," said Steve Rakoczy, who began the petition and the website, StoptheTrolley.com .
A trolley system was first proposed on Marco Island in 2021, where it was shot down at the City Council level.
"I was there when the trolley proposal came up, while I was on city council. I was opposed to it. Then for the same reasons. I'm opposed to it now. First, because the citizens really, really don't want it. Secondly, because the citizens won't use it," said Howard Reed, a former Marco Island City councilman who opposed the trolley system while he served in local government.
The proposed project, which has now passed its first reading at the City Council, would include two phases.
1) Changes to "Route 21"
Route 21, the City of Marco Island's Collier Area Transit (CAT) bus, typically runs three times a day, at 6 a.m., 7:30 a.m., and 6 p.m., according to the proposal. New routes would include a 10-hour running time, as well as a bus that circles the island instead of shuttling riders back and forth.
The following stops have been proposed:
- Bald Eagle and Collier
- Esplanade
- Bayside and Collier (across from Joey’s)
- Residents’ Beach
- Maple Ave and Collier (Public Beach Access)
- JW Marriott
- Hilton
- Marriott Crystal Shores (Public Beach Access)
- South Beach (Public Beach Access)
- Caxambas Park (turn around and head north on Collier)
- Collier and Winterberry
- Winterberry and S Heathwood (Winterberry Ball Field)
- S. Heathwood and Andalusia (Library and Mackle Park)
- Marco Island Historical Society
- 50 Bald Eagle (City Hall)
- Veteran’s Park
- Bald Eagle and Collier Boulevard.
- N. Barfield and Bald Eagle
- Rose Marina
- 1100 Bald Eagle (Bike Shop, Zaza’s)
- Snook Inn
- 244 Palm St. (Old Marco Shops)
2) Beach Trolley
A beach bus would continuously make trips up and down the Marco Island coast, picking up riders and taking them to each of the access points throughout the City, according to the proposal.
The following stops have been proposed:
- Tigertail County Park
- Residents’ Beach
- Maple Ave and Collier (Public Beach Access)
- JW Marriott
- Hilton
- Marriott Crystal Shores (Public Beach Access)
- South Beach (Public Beach Access)
- Caxambas Park (turn around and head north on Collier to repeat route to Tigertail)
The pilot program would take effect during high season, from Jan. 1, 2025 to March 31, 2025. It will be discussed at Marco Island City Council's next meeting, on Sept. 23.
"Trust me ... we will be there. We will be heard," said Josephs.