Galveston, TX — Gomaco Contract Approved

January 2017

Self-propelled streetcars intended as replicas of early 20th century semiconvertibles will return to the streets of Galveston on the south Texas seacoast along the Gulf after repairs are complete, according to the www.myssnews.com site. Gomaco Trolley of Ida Grove, Iowa, will repair three of the streetcars for $3.8 million.

On January 26 the Galveston City Council approved a contract with Gomaco for rebuilding the three cars. A total of $1.6 million of the cost will be covered by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds.

The balance of the funding will be drawn from insurance and convention center surplus funds, or money left over from local hotel taxes after distributions to other city groups that use the funds. The council initially approved restoring the trolley system in February 2015, but only after it was threatened with having to repay federal grants used to build the trolley service before the storm.

Currently available funds will cover rebuilding only three of the four trolleys. If another $1.6 million can be found before year end, Gomaco will restore the fourth at the same price as the first three.