The city of Manitou Springs continues to look for ways to reduce traffic congestion — and the resultant pollution — in the downtown area during peak tourism season. One of the latest strategies: the Manitou Express, a small (very small) fleet of electric trams.
During spring break season, the two 15-passenger vehicles have been puttering around the city at 20 mph. They follow a route from the Hiawatha Gardens lot at 10 Old Man’s Trail to the Wichita lot at 708 Manitou Ave. and the Smischny lot at 1134 Manitou Ave., then back to Hiawatha Gardens.
At a December 2023 community meeting, people expressed their desire for quiet, environmentally friendly ways for locals and visitors to travel around Manitou Springs.
A city press release said that using the Manitou Express could encourage people to be open to other forms of transportation and to be more fully immersed in the city’s historic sites.
The two trams cost $150,000 total, paid for out of the Mobility and Parking Enterprise Fund, which uses revenues from parking fees, fines and permits. They were transported on a flatbed truck and arrived in December 2023, in time to be revealed to the public during the Christmas Parade.
This trial period will end April 14; it’s being used for collecting ridership data and customer feedback, and for studying running times and battery life.
The upgraded 15-kilowatt motor uses lithium-ion batteries, and each tram has an on-board charger.
Once the data and anecdotal information have been reviewed, the city will determine if any changes are needed for routes and schedules. A final map and schedule will be created and disseminated for the summer tourism season.
The trams will see a lot of use during Manitou’s special events, making festivals more enjoyable for everyone.
They comply with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, and service animals are welcome.
By May, the city plans to decide about other animals (leashed or in carriers), whether passengers can have large items and open drink and food containers, and whether unaccompanied minors can ride the trams.
City personnel have been trained to operate the trams.
“One (staffer) especially enjoys driving the trams because she is able to interact with the passengers and be engaged in their experiences,” the press release stated.
It’s free to ride the Manitou Express, and the trams offer several amenities, including a luggage/bicycle rack on the rear and a radio/CD/public address system with Bluetooth headset microphones and speakers.
Best of all, Manitou artist Caitlin B. Alexander turned them into mobile works of art; Specialty Vehicles, based in Henderson, Nevada, wrapped the trams with her images.
The trams do have a few limitations.
(The driver) is able to interact with the passengers. – City of Manitou Springs press release
Cold weather, steep hills and the number of passengers affect the life of the 72-volt A/C battery system, and the trams are not designed for snow or icy road conditions.
“We hope to encourage the residents, employees and visitors of Manitou to try this form of public transportation as a way to explore options to promote walking and biking and engage in a more immersive experience,” said Juan Alvarez, director of Mobility and Parking for Manitou Springs.