Laguna Beach trolleys to get GPS

Trolleys will be equipped with Global Positioning Units this summer so transit system supervisors will know where they are at any given minute and where they should go.

The information will be shared with Phondini Partners, which is developing a smart phone application for the Laguna Beach Visitors Bureau. The app will also be available to the public to track the trolleys and access information on local events, venues, businesses and restaurants in town, at no cost to the users or the city.

Advertisements that appear with the data will fund the development and distribution of the app, and the information.

Details about the ad content were not available at the May 15 City Council meeting when the agreement with Phondini was approved. However, the city can cancel the agreement if the content is inappropriate.

The agreement gives Phondini exclusive use of the city’s GPS data, but could be terminated if other application developers apply for access.