EASTON, Pa. — The free All Aboard Easton community trolley will keep running every Saturday through the end of the Easton Farmers’ Market season, and will start an hour earlier, organizers announced Thursday on social media.
The extension keeps a free ride downtown within reach for residents of the West Ward and South Side, neighborhoods where organizers say some people have stayed away from the city’s core because of transportation gaps, parking costs or a sense that downtown wasn’t meant for them.
The trolley launched July 25 as a four-week pilot. It is operated by the Easton Main Street Initiative and the West Ward Community Initiative, both programs of the Greater Easton Development Partnership, in collaboration with the Easton Farmers’ Market and the City of Easton.
The trolley now runs from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. every Saturday, a full hour earlier than the pilot’s 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. schedule, according to the city’s announcement of the program. Organizers said the shift responds to rider feedback, and the new start time lines up with the farmers market’s 9 a.m. opening.
Stops along the fixed route include Paxinosa Elementary School, Cheston Elementary School, the Easton Area Neighborhood Center, the Fourth Street Parking Garage and the Easton Farmers’ Market. A volunteer rides along to welcome passengers, distribute wristbands and share maps and guides of the downtown area.
Rides are free; no ticket or reservation is required, and the trolley is wheelchair-accessible, according to the program’s website. Wristbands give riders priority boarding on return trips, though a seat home is not guaranteed if the trolley is full, and offer discounts at 11 Easton businesses and attractions, including the Carmel Corn Shop, the Sigal Museum, and ThreeBirds Coffee House, according to the website.
The extension means the trolley could run into December. The Easton Farmers’ Market, held Saturdays at Scott Park on the riverfront, is scheduled to continue through Dec. 19, the last Saturday before Christmas, according to the market’s 2026 season calendar.
Organizers said ridership during the pilot exceeded expectations, though they did not release figures.
“We always believed in what this program could do for our community, and our riders proved us right,” said Julie VanOsdol, manager of the Easton Main Street Initiative. “All Aboard Easton was designed to make downtown feel accessible to every Easton resident, and the response has been incredible. We’re not ready to stop, and frankly, neither are our riders.”
Jacob Behler, manager of the West Ward Community Initiative, said the program’s impact has extended beyond transportation.
“What I’ve loved about this program is how much it brings people together,” Behler said. “We’ve had fantastic conversations among riders and staff, as well as local families and visitors to the city alike. It’s been surprising to see how many residents have a hard time believing an experience like this exists for them. One of our most common conversations is simply reassuring people that the rides, water and everything else on the trolley really are free.”
The trolley has history downtown. The city ran free evening trolley loops as recently as summer 2023, connecting downtown to College Hill, the West Ward and the South Side on Fridays and Saturdays, according to city announcements at the time. The vehicle then sat idle until last holiday season, when it returned to give tours during the Easton Winter Village, according to the Easton Main Street Initiative.
The partnership is seeking sponsors to help fund the service beyond the current farmers market season. Businesses and organizations interested in supporting the program can contact VanOsdol at julie@eastonpartnership.org.
Full route details and departure times are available on the All Aboard Easton website.