How old was the trolley that carried your family past the Waterway lights last December?
It was old enough that, by federal accounting, it had already reached the end of its useful life. Six replacements are due at a public reveal on Saturday, November 7. Two weeks after that, Holiday on The Waterway turns on and Town Center fills with people looking for somewhere to park. The new trolleys arrive later than planned, right before the stretch of the year when the loop gets the most use.
Approved in 2024, Arriving in Late 2026
The Woodlands Township Board approved $2.2 million for six new trolleys on April 24, 2024, Community Impact reported. The Township had budgeted $1.5 million and authorized another $732,432 to cover the full cost. At the time, the vehicles were expected to enter service by spring 2026.
By February 2026 the timing was less certain. At the Board's February 26 meeting, the Township's transportation staff described the new trolley fleet and new Woodlands Express fleet as arriving "fingers crossed this calendar year." Spring came and went. The Township's October 20 announcement now places the debut in November.
The new trolleys keep the old ones' fuel and change how they ride. Transportation Director Ruthanne Haut told Community Impact that the new vehicles would stay propane-powered like the trolleys they replace. The design changes reported then were a lower wheelchair entry and permanent rear windows, which are meant to ease maintenance, improve visibility and keep the cabin cooler. Staff also said they were seeking reimbursement through Houston-Galveston Area Council Transportation Development Credits.
"End of Useful Life" Doesn't Mean the Old Trolleys Stop Running
"End of useful life" is a federal accounting term. At that same February meeting, staff explained that a vehicle reaching its designated end of useful life "doesn't mean the vehicles necessarily can't run anymore." It means the federal interest in the vehicle has run its course. That window is usually 10 years for the Township's vehicles and "a little less for the trolleys because they have high mileage."
That mileage comes from the trolleys running constantly. The trolley has been free for almost 20 years, and it normally runs seven days a week through Town Center.
Some of the familiar trolleys will stay. Staff recommended keeping four of the older trolleys, along with 14 existing Woodlands Express coach buses, "for operational flexibility" and to keep enough vehicles in reserve. The remaining vehicles would be disposed of under Federal Transit Administration policy. When a board member asked whether retired-on-paper vehicles could still fill in while a newer one is being repaired, staff said yes. They explained that the term comes from an accounting view of a vehicle's value. So the Township is keeping backup trolleys going into the busiest weeks of its year.
November 7 at the Pavilion
The Grand Trolley Reveal runs Saturday, November 7, from 10 to 11 a.m. It takes place at the Town Center Trolley boarding point along the southern edge of The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, near The Woodlands Waterway. The Township is inviting residents to see the six new trolleys, learn their names and "be among the first to climb aboard."
The names come from residents. This year's Trolley Naming Contest produced 20 winning submissions, and the new trolleys carry refreshed graphics alongside names drawn from them. The event also honors the Trolley Coloring Contest, which named 12 winners across four age groups: 0 to 3, 4 to 7, 8 to 11 and 12 to 15. The four first-place winners will be announced before the reveal. If someone in your house sent in a drawing this year, this is the hour to be at the Pavilion.
Two Weeks Later, the Loop Gets Its Heaviest Use
Saturday, November 21, is the day the trolley schedule matters most. The Township's Lighting of the Doves runs from 3 to 8 p.m. at Town Green Park, 2099 Lake Robbins Drive, with Santa arriving on the Waterway and fireworks on the program. The same day, Holiday on The Waterway opens for a run through January 3, 2027. The Township Parks & Recreation Department produces the display. This year it is Powered by Entergy and features more than one million lights along the Waterway's paths and bridges.
The trolley runs through the display itself. Visit The Woodlands describes light-filled tunnels on the north side of the Waterway that guests can walk through or ride through on a trolley. The same page warns that the north side sits near an active trolley path and asks pedestrians to stay on the sidewalk and watch for passing vehicles. If you're walking with small children, that warning is the part to remember. The tunnels that make the best photos are also where the trolleys pass.
The event's own site, holidayonthewaterway.com, recommends parking once and riding the trolley among the lights. It also gives a specific warning. Rides are first-come, first-served, and peak hours from 6 to 8 p.m. "can be very busy, so plan to ride earlier or later." The Township lists capacity on each trolley as limited, and each trolley is ADA compliant.
Riding earlier or later depends on which day you go, because the trolley's hours change through the week:
| Day | Trolley hours | During the lights season |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Thursday | 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. | Leaves an hour after the 6 to 8 p.m. peak |
| Friday and Saturday | 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. | The longest window for riding after the crowd |
| Sunday | Noon to 7 p.m. | Service ends in the middle of the peak |
The Sunday row affects more trips than it seems to. Holiday on The Waterway begins on a Saturday and ends on Sunday, January 3, so the season includes seven Sundays. On every one of them, the trolley stops at 7 p.m. If your family usually goes on Sunday evening, plan to ride before dark, or plan to walk the lights.
Park Once, Then Board
The Waterway sits at 31 Waterway Square Place. The Township has paid and free public parking in garages, in lots and along the street throughout Town Center. The holiday site names three options close to the lights:
- Town Center Garage, 2005 Lake Robbins Drive, near The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion and the same boarding point used for the November 7 reveal.
- Waterway Square Garage, 1505 Lake Robbins Drive, directly next to Waterway Square.
- Orange Lot, 2204 Timberloch Place, just off Grogan's Mill Road near the Riva Row Boat House.
The holiday site also says plainly not to park at Market Street, because those spaces are reserved for Market Street customers. The trolley fixes that problem for you. Market Street is a stop on the loop, so you can park in a Township garage and still ride over for dinner.
The full loop covers Hughes Landing, the Riva Row Boat House, Town Green Park, the Pavilion, Waterway Square, The Woodlands Waterway Marriott, The Woodlands Mall, Market Street, H-E-B, Cinemark 17 and The Woodlands Tower. On November 21, that means one parking spot can cover a Waterway walk, the Lighting of the Doves at Town Green Park and a meal at Hughes Landing without moving the car.
The Dates the Trolley Sits Out
Three holidays fall inside the lights season, and the trolley doesn't run on any of them. The Township lists no service on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day or New Year's Day. In 2026, Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26, five days after the lights open. Christmas Day and New Year's Day both fall on Fridays this season. Those are days when out-of-town guests are most likely to want to see the lights, and the park-and-ride plan won't work on them.
The route can also change for construction, traffic or special events. The Township's real-time tracker at towncentertrolley.passiogo.com shows where each trolley is on the loop, and you don't need an app to use it. Current hours and the route map are at woodlandstransit.com/Trolleys. On a busy December weekend, the tracker tells you whether the next trolley is around the corner or across Lake Robbins Drive.
The new fleet has six trolleys, with four older ones kept in reserve, and one Saturday on November 21 will load a fireworks festival and a million-light display onto the same loop. If you're hosting family this season, check the tracker before you leave home.
Planning a holiday visit for relocating family, or showing visiting relatives where things are in Town Center? Jenny knows how The Woodlands works week to week, including where to park and when the trolley stops running. Reach out to Jenny Hill to Schedule a Consultation, whether you're settling in here or helping someone else get to know the area.
