Boca Raton city officials celebrated the debut of the city’s new shuttle service, BocaConnect, with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the south end of Mizner Park on Monday morning. The service, developed in partnership with Circuit Transit Inc., aims to provide a sustainable and convenient mobility option with a fleet of all-electric vehicles to transport passengers in, out and around downtown Boca.
“Environmental sustainability is [one] of our strategic priorities and by having these vehicles and taking more cars off the road, we’re going to be able to help with our race to zero emissions,” said Boca Raton Deputy Mayor Yvette Drucker, referring to Boca joining more than 1,000 cities that have pledged to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The BocaConnect program is currently in its pilot phase, with the city and Circuit analyzing data over the coming year to assess the needs of the community. There are currently four vehicles in the fleet: the “gem,” a golf cart-like vehicle that holds up to five passengers; two sedans for up to three passengers; and an ADA-compliant van that can hold up to six. If the demand is there, more vehicles will be added as well as new routes, including to Florida Atlantic University.
City Councilwoman and Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Chair Fran Nachlas said that BocaConnect “will reduce reliance on single occupancy vehicles, multiple short trips, congestion and parking demand.
“Boca Connect will also provide the much needed link to connecting and moving people more easily within the downtown and to and from major places of interest,” said Nachlas, such as the Boca Raton Historical Society, the Studio at Mizner Park, and the Boca Museum of Art.
The on-demand shuttle service will offer free fares for rides that begin and end within the CRA boundaries, $2 fares (plus $1 per additional rider) for trips as far north as Glades Road, as far west as I-95, east to the Intracoastal and south to the city limits. Rides are ordered through the Circuit app, available on both Android and Apple devices. Wait times are estimated at 10 minutes or less. The operating schedule is as follows:
- Monday – Thursday: 7 a.m. – 11 p.m.
- Friday: 7 a.m. – 2 a.m.
- Saturday: 9 a.m. – 2 a.m.
- Sunday: 9 a.m. – 11 p.m.
For a limited time, passengers can get two free rides that begin or end outside of the CRA boundaries by using promo code bocaconnect2free on the Circuit app. Offer available through July 14.
