Ocean City trams unlikely to return by next summer in wake of child’s death

Ocean City's village manager said Monday that the popular trams running the length of the iconic boardwalk are unlikely to return by next summer, as officials continue to investigate the fatal accident that took the life of a 2-year-old boy.

"The tram accident remains under investigation," city manager Terry McGean said in a phone interview Monday. "We're certainly going to do everything we can to get the trams back, but the prospects for having that done by the summer do not look good."

McGean confirmed that the city has "been put on notice" that a lawsuit is being prepared by the toddler's family.

The trams, which provided a scenic view of Ocean City and the water for the cost of a $5 fare, ran about 2.5 miles along the length of the boardwalk, from Division Street to 27th Street. The service began in 1964 but was suspended immediately and indefinitely after the Aug. 20 accident.

Police said that the child had been crossing the tram pad when he was struck by a southbound train.

The tragedy struck a nerve in the community, in part because tram safety had come up as long ago as 2015 when a task force was convened to suggest new rules regarding street performers. At the time, task force members expressed concerns that trams traveling frequently throughout the day along the congested boardwalk presented a safety hazard.

McGean said he sympathizes with residents who miss what had been a staple of Ocean City life for more than half a century. But he pointed out that the trams were designed primarily to serve tourists, not Ocean City locals.

"It is a sightseeing route," McGean said. "It is not bus service."