I was a bit surprised when Joe Edwards purchased our $2 Delmar Loop Trolley tickets from the Leland Avenue stop ticketing machine rather than simply walking onto the trolley car, which I assumed he would be able to do for free.

Edwards, owner of numerous Loop establishments including Blueberry Hill, the Peacock Diner and the Moonrise Hotel, spearheaded the $51 million dollar Loop Trolley project. He told me that he always makes sure to buy a ticket.

“I still try to be above board,” Edwards said.

Jaden Satenstein | Student Life

Edwards purchases two tickets for the Loop Trolley.

We boarded the cream-and-blue-colored trolley car and sat on the wooden seating alongside one of the vehicle’s walls. As the trolley began to chug Eastward along the 2.2 mile line, I likened the feeling of its slightly bumpy, rocking motion to that of an amusement park tram. Edwards remarked that this movement was one his favorite aspects of the Trolley.

“A combination of the motion and the beauty of these gorgeous cars – it relaxes me,” Edwards said. “Both aspects: the visual part and the motion part.”

It really was relaxing. The windows lining the car allowed the bright sunshine in and provided a clear view of Loop storefronts, including many of Edwards’ businesses. His next Loop project is the Magic Mini Golf course, which will open in the fall.

“I love filling in places on the streetscape,” Edwards said. “Anything I can do to create a place where people can put their worries behind them and their troubles behind them for at least two hours. That’s a good thing.”

Jaden Satenstein | Student Life

Joe Edwards stands in front of the blue and cream Delmar Loop Trolley car as it travels east along its 2.2-mile-long line.

Edwards views the Loop Trolley as a perfect example of that kind of place, describing public transit as a way for different members of the St. Louis community to come together in an environmentally friendly, inclusive way.

“It really is back to the future,” Edwards said. “It makes sense. Communities like to have public transit. The reason public transit is so important is that everybody can afford it. You don’t have to be rich and have a fancy car if you live in an area near public transit, and that’s really important to have that interaction with everybody.”

Walking and riding along the Loop with Joe Edwards is a fascinating reminder of just how well-known he is in the neighborhood. We were stopped countless times by passersby, both those whom he knew personally and strangers, saying hello and complimenting him on the trolley.

However, not everyone in the St. Louis community has such favorable thoughts of the project. Throughout the trolley’s construction, multiple Delmar Loop store and restaurant owners complained about the effect of the process on their businesses. Edwards disputed claims that the construction process directly led to the closing of Loop establishments.

“I can guarantee there’s not one business that can prove they went out of business because of construction,” Edwards said. “It only lasted a year and a half for one thing. That’s only three to four weeks in front of one store.”

The Trolley has been involved in multiple accidents over the past few months, such as when a car struck the red and cream trolley car just this past Saturday, April 13.

Edwards has also faced criticism due to the Trolley’s ridership not meeting expectations; however, he stressed that once the Trolley, which currently runs four days a week and includes two cars, adds its third car in the coming months and begins a seven-days-a-week schedule, ticket sales will rise significantly.

“It’s not up and running the way it’s designed to do,” Edwards said. “Once that third car is there and it’s seven days a week, then start judging it. It’s still in the early stage. … You open a new business and it doesn’t just start operating perfectly right away.”

Since the Trolley has only run in winter weather so far, Edwards projects that the rising temperatures and increased sunshine will draw more riders to it.

“Let it go through spring, summer, fall and winter and then judge how you feel about it,” Edwards said. “Everybody who rides the trolleys love them, and I think it’s just gonna pick up immensely. … For every four people that have their doubts about it, there are 4,000 totally in favor.”

Edwards hopes that one day the Trolley will expand across the city and county, with lines going both into Clayton and through Forest Park. He sees the project as a way to make St. Louis greener and less congested with vehicles while connecting its residents.

“The future is the key,” Edwards said. “Keep bridging – especially the eastern part of the Delmar Divide – and bringing people together of all backgrounds.”