Throughout the past month, we checked in with our 2025 grantees to learn how their funded programs, projects, and initiatives are progressing – and to better understand the impact they’re making across Los Angeles. Now, we are excited to share these interviews, with stories of growth, challenges, and community transformation. [Find each of their stories here.]

Downtown San Pedro Community Foundation received funding through the LA2050 Grants Challenge from the Goldhirsh Foundation to support the expansion and modernization of San Pedro’s trolley system, including rider-focused technology and the transition to electric trolleys. Below is an edited transcript of our conversation with their team.

Interview Participant:

Stacy Trevizo, Trolley Operations Manager

LA2050: As San Pedro prepares for major investments and global events, how does expanding and modernizing the trolley system help address last-mile transit challenges and support a more connected waterfront community?

Downtown San Pedro Community Foundation: Expanding and modernizing the trolley system is helping address last-mile transit challenges by making the system more reliable, easier to use, and better connected to the waterfront experience. A major part of that progress is TripShot, which allows riders to track trolleys live, better understand wait times, and even set an alert so they can continue enjoying the area until it is time to meet the trolley. In the past, the trolley often functioned more like a novelty than a dependable transit option, with inconsistent wait times that made it difficult for riders to plan. With live tracking and improved visibility, the system is becoming more predictable for riders and more manageable for staff.

At the same time, the new technology is helping us make smarter decisions as the program evolves. In addition to improving the rider experience, TripShot provides data that can help staff and board members better understand usage patterns, spacing between trolleys, and where future adjustments may be needed. Taken together, these upgrades are helping move the trolley from a fun amenity to a more functional transportation tool, one that can better connect residents and visitors to the growing waterfront and support a more connected San Pedro community.

LA2050: Your work brings together transit access, tourism, and sustainability through electric trolleys and rider-focused technology. What challenges have you encountered in implementing these upgrades and what early successes or community impacts are you seeing?

Downtown San Pedro Community Foundation: Implementing these upgrades has come with real challenges. Transitioning to electric trolleys has required work around charging, maintenance, and reliability, while also introducing new technology and training staff to use TripShot effectively. One major decision point involved the possibility of moving toward an autonomous electric trolley model. After hearing concerns from labor and local leadership, we chose to move forward with electric trolleys but not the autonomous model at this time. That shift required revisiting plans already in motion, but ultimately helped build stronger support and alignment with local stakeholders.

Even with those bumps, the response from the community has been very positive. Riders are beginning to trust the system more because they can now see where the trolley is and better anticipate when it will arrive. Businesses along the waterfront are benefiting from stronger connections and more rider confidence in moving through the district. Together, these early signs point to a cleaner, more connected, and more rider-friendly future for San Pedro, especially as the neighborhood prepares for new destinations and increased tourism.

LA2050: What do you hope to achieve in the last six months of the grant, and how can the broader LA2050 community support?

Downtown San Pedro Community Foundation: We are focused on reaching a few major milestones: taking delivery of its first electric trolley, continuing to build excitement through its marketing campaign, and raising additional funds to replace another trolley and support ongoing operations. This phase is about turning planning and infrastructure work into something visible, useful, and scalable for the community. We see this as a key moment to show residents, visitors, and local partners what a modernized trolley system can look like in practice.

Support from the broader LA2050 community could make a meaningful difference in that next phase. Downtown San Pedro Community Foundation shared that helping amplify the story of the trolley’s evolution, and connecting the project to additional funding opportunities, would strengthen its ability to continue the transition and bring another electric trolley into service. More visibility and partnership could help ensure that the momentum built so far translates into long-term impact for the waterfront and the community it serves.

Photo Credit: San Pedro Community Foundation