The new BocaConnect area (in green) provides people on the barrier island access to downtown (red) and from there to within the existing service area (blue). Rendering provided
By Mary Hladky
BocaConnect, the electric vehicle shuttle service operated by Circuit Transit, has expanded to the barrier island.
Boca Raton City Council members approved the enlarged service area on Feb. 11, and service started on Feb. 24, after barrier island residents pressed them to make the shuttle available to them.
When launched on June 17, the service area ran from Glades Road to the south city limits, and from Interstate 95 to Fifth Avenue/Royal Palm Way. Now, the area will encompass the barrier island from South Inlet Park to just north of the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center.
The city is currently paying Circuit Transit, which operates in many South Florida cities, $491,724 a year. The expansion will cost an additional $190,692.
The on-demand service is intended to make it easier for people to get around the downtown and adjacent areas without driving their cars, thereby reducing congestion.
Rides must start or end within the downtown. Rides between downtown locations are free. The downtown includes the Federal Highway corridor, Downtown Library, Brightline station and Wildflower and Silver Palm parks.
Rides that start or end within the service areas but outside the downtown cost $2. Each additional rider costs $1, with a fare cap of $5.
People cannot use the service to travel only within the barrier island, or between the barrier island and another service area outside the downtown area.
The city’s contract with Circuit Transit specifies that wait times can be no longer than 10 minutes. But that rule has been loosened for the barrier island service because Circuit Transit has no control over the opening and closing of the Palmetto Park Road bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway.
Ridership has gradually increased since the service was launched. During July, the first full month of service, 1,409 passengers used BocaConnect. That number rose to 2,456 in January.
Hours of service are Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday, 7 a.m. to 2 a.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 a.m.; and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
To book rides, download the Circuit app, available on both iOS and Android platforms, and type in the pickup address and destination. Riders are updated on when the shuttle will arrive.
Comments