Westlake Village’s earlier trolley service ran on Friday and Saturday evenings during summer and the holiday season, with stops at local destinations including the Westlake Village Inn, the Four Seasons, the Shoppes and the Landing, according to The Acorn. An eight-week pilot averaged 115 riders on Fridays and 153 on Saturdays, and the City Council later approved a holiday-season extension, the Ventura County Star reported. The city ended the service in 2020 amid declining ridership, unreliable service and COVID-19 disruptions, The Acorn reported.
The city is now pursuing a return using a trolley previously operated by Calabasas. The Acorn reports that Westlake Village’s council made reviving the community service a goal in January 2024; efforts to find an operator or partner city did not succeed. In early September, Westlake Village bought Calabasas’s retired 2004 trolley for $30,500 at a government surplus auction, according to the report.
Restoration remains a substantial step before service can resume. The vehicle needs mechanical, electrical and cosmetic work, though its transmission and air-conditioning system had been rebuilt or upgraded in the prior 18 months. The Acorn also reported that the trolley met California emissions standards. Westlake Village’s council unanimously approved a budget amendment and authorized up to $200,000 for repairs and restoration, according to the outlet.
The restoration was not included in the adopted spending plan. As reported by The Acorn, City Manager Rob de Geus described the purchase and restoration as the most efficient way forward and said the city’s 2026-27 budget projected a $1.1 million surplus that could accommodate the added spending. Staff plans to revisit the service’s route and design and seek community participation through the Cultural Recreation Committee, the report said. The city is aiming for a possible summer 2027 launch.
