Ocean City, Maryland’s, Boardwalk Tram will not operate at all during the 2025 season, the Town of Ocean City has announced. The handy tram carried people to various stops throughout the length of the 2.9-mile Boardwalk, from the Inlet to 27th Street, for 60 years.
Tram operations were suspended indefinitely near the end of the 2024 beach season after a two-year-old boy was struck and killed by a tram on Aug. 20. The toddler was crossing the Boardwalk tram pad near Dorchester Street around 8:15 p.m. when a southbound tram hit him, according to the Ocean City Fire Department. The Town of Ocean City announced the next day that all Boardwalk Tram service would be halted until further notice.
The Town now says the tram will not operate during the 2025 season, either. The Boardwalk Tram, which has been in operation since 1964, is a piece of Ocean City nostalgia the town has touted as a can’t-miss for tourists. Its website says, “The ocean breeze, beach, sand, and family atmosphere are just a few of the reasons why you’ll want to ride the Ocean City Boardwalk trams during your visit.” The town says, “The best part of the half-hour ride is the detour that takes you on the pier close to the ocean, where you can see, hear, and sometimes even feel the ocean water. That’s when you know you are in Ocean City, Maryland!
The tram is an important revenue source for the town. It’s estimated that on a peak summer weekend evening, the trams carry up to 4,000 passengers. The tram fare has been raised a couple of times since the COVID-19 pandemic, and the fare is currently listed at $5 per one-way ride per person. As that revenue sources disappears for the next year, the town has proposed transferring just over $1.5 million to Transportation in its 2025-2026 budget.
The Ocean City Police Department has not publicly released its completed investigation report, but local newspaper OC Today-Dispatch obtained the report through a Maryland Public Information Act request and cites multiple safety violations found by investigators.
Chesapeake Bay Magazine will continue to provide updates on the future of the Ocean City Boardwalk Tram as more information is released.
