OCEAN CITY, Md. - The Ocean City Boardwalk tram service will remain shut down through the summer of 2025, with no plans to reopen this year, according to the Ocean City Manager.
Local residents and visitors have expressed disappointment over the decision.
“It’s a great thing for the senior citizens and people that have small children, babies, and don’t want to walk,” said Shawn Barner, a frequent boardwalk visitor.
An outpouring of community support saw stuffed animals and tributes left along the boardwalk in honor of the child.
The service was halted following a tragic incident last summer in which a two-year-old boy lost his life in a tram accident. In the wake of the tragedy, an outpouring of community support saw stuffed animals and tributes left along the boardwalk in honor of the child.
With the tram system remaining inactive, the town anticipates a financial impact. The council has proposed allocating an additional $1.5 million to the 2026 budget for the transportation committee.
“In terms of the lost revenue from the boardwalk trams, hopefully we can reestablish a boardwalk tram in the future,” said Ocean City Manager Terry McGean. “But we know for this summer we’re not going to have them.”
Barner acknowledged the reasoning behind the continued closure but hopes the system will return with enhanced safety measures. “They should just put in a few more precautionary measures, take precautions with driving, obviously,” Barner said.
According to McGean, discussions are underway about the possibility of bringing back the tram system for the summer of 2026.