History

Public transit has been providing rides in the Fox Cities for well over 130 years. From animal-powered streetcars to the clean diesel buses now in operation, public transit has evolved through distinct eras of operation. The timeline below summarizes a few historical milestones of public transit service in the Fox Cities.

Public transportation in the Fox Cities originated with the streetcar system, which operated from 1886 to 1930.

Did you know? Appleton had the first hydroelectric powered railway system in the United States.

Check out this video showing the streetcar route and description.

Here’s a video describing the last trolley ride (April 6, 1930)

In 1930, the streetcars were replaced by buses operated by a company called Appleton Transportation Company which later became Fox River Bus Lines.

Toward the end of the 1960’s, the city of Appleton began to subsidize the company, until it bought and took over operations on January 1, 1978.

Today, Valley Transit provides fixed-route service, paratransit and demand response services to a wide range of customers.