A new Jefferson County business aims to safely transport groups of people to and from entertainment venues on a bus called “the Patriot Trolley.”
The bus is expected to begin running Saturday, said Russ Hasty, 57, of De Soto, who will be the driver.
His brother, Ron Hasty, 58, of St. Louis owns R&R Mobile Entertainment LLC, which operates the bus.
He calls the bus “Eastern Missouri’s No. 1 Trolley.”
His company is based in De Soto but will offer trolley service all around Jefferson County, as well as in neighboring counties.
Ron Hasty said the trolley may be compared to a limousine service, but on a larger scale. The vehicle accommodates up to 30 passengers and is handicap accessible.
“We’re going to provide transportation for wine tours, bachelor and bachelorette parties, family reunions, corporate events,” he said. “We’re providing a transportation service for wine tours in Ste. Genevieve and Jefferson County.”
The business offers standard pick-ups at two locations: the commuter parking lot near southbound I-55 in Imperial and the commuter parking lot on St. Pius Drive in Crystal City. However, for private engagements, arrangements may be made for pick-ups at other locations.
Ron Hasty retired last November after 32 years as a St. Louis policeman. He said his concerns about drunk driving were among the reasons he wanted to start the business.
“With everybody concerned about DWIs, it’s a way to get from point A to point B safely,” he said. “It’s one thing less you have to worry about. We promise people a fun time.”
Ron Hasty, also an Army veteran, said the Patriot Trolley is festooned in red, white and blue and will offer special trips for military veterans to the Missouri National Veterans Memorial in Perryville.
“I’m kind of a red, white and blue kind of guy,” he said. “I’m very passionate about veterans and first responders. Once a month, we will provide a free shuttle to ‘The Wall’ in Perryville.”
He said he intends to eventually expand the business.
“We’re planning on more trolleys in the future,” he said.
For more information about the trolley, visit the website at thepatriottrolley.com.
