A New Purpose for the Kean Trolley Buses

Principal Investigator:
Lauryn Repollet

Faculty Advisor:
Tracie Feldman

Abstract:
Kean University is becoming a more sustainable campus with many efforts to incorporate eco-friendly projects and sustainability into the campus. The trolley buses used to transport people around the Kean University Union/Hillside campuses will soon be placed out of commission with the transition to eco-friendly buses. For my project, I looked into different ways to repurpose the iconic Kean trolley buses. We are proposing to redefine the use of the bus frame and chassis and convert them for an alternative use. The reclamation of shipping containers, out-of-service train cars, moving vans, and school buses inspired me. I saw a multitude of ways these side-lined vehicles were incorporated into a campus as a unique feature.
Through my research, I found various inspiring ideas that could be integrated into Kean’s campus and enhance the student experience while still incorporating the ideas of sustainability and reuse rather than sidelining and disposing. I am proposing four different uses. We can repurpose the trolley buses into structures that would be greatly appreciated by the Kean University community: a food and dining area, a school store, a library/study space, and turning it into a pedestrian bridge over Trotters Creek on campus. These ideas can create iconic landmarks unique to the Union/Hillside campus and a way to continue the life and legacy of the trolley buses. The project demonstrates the potential for the trolley buses to create additional public spaces on Kean’s campus. The trolley buses are a part of Kean’s history. Finding a way to incorporate the four trolley buses into the campus landscape will continue the history and purpose of the Kean trolley buses.