Hilton Head’s trolley service suspended, drivers reassigned due to COVID-19
Update: Trolley service will restart Sept. 3. For more information, click here.
Hilton Head Island’s signature trolley service, The Breeze, has suspended service so it can reassign trolley drivers to the commuter buses, according to the Lowcountry Regional Transportation Authority.
The drivers are changing driving assignments because several bus drivers are self-quarantining and awaiting the results of coronavirus tests.
Contacted Tuesday evening, spokesperson Brian Sullivan said he did not know whether any drivers had tested positive for COVID-19.
Outside of the trolley, Palmetto Breeze also operates commuter bus routes from Allendale, Hampton, Colleton and Jasper counties. The buses, which often leave the rural counties before sunrise and bring people to work on Hilton Head, run seven days per week.
“We need to prioritize our commuter service at this time, since we cannot safely hire and train new drivers on such short notice, and we regret any inconvenience this will cause for those who rely on or were looking forward to catching The Breeze during the next several days,” executive director Mary Lou Franzoni said.
The reassignments are expected to be temporary, and Palmetto Breeze will post updates on its social media pages.
The Breeze trolley typically runs from Shelter Cove on Hilton Head to The Triangle and Coligny Beach. The service is free and usually runs from 1 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. or midnight on weekends.
This story was originally published August 19, 2020 at 9:51 AM.
