On Oct. 12, the Chula Vista City Council adopted a resolution that will bring a shuttle service to seniors and residents in an agreement with the California Air Resources Board for the Community Shuttle Program, and Circuit Transit, Inc. With a $1 million grant agreement with Community Congregational Development Corporation, the pilot program supports Chula Vista’ efforts of reducing greenhouse emissions and meeting public transportation needs for all ages. The City, in conjunction with Circuit Transit, applied for the Clean Mobility Options grant in October 2020. The City was awarded $997,833 through the CMO program, a statewide initiative funded by California Climate Investments and administered by California Air Board’s Program Administrator team to provide funding for zero-emission shared mobility option to under-resourced communities.
The Community Shuttle Program will provide all-electric on-demand door-to-door shuttle services catered to the needs of the local senior community in the northwest part of Chula Vista. The Community Shuttle Program has been designed with the community’s input and participation to provide safe, convenient, affordable, and accessible first/last mile connections. The goals of the program will be to improve mobility options for the senior community, provide connections to public transit and key community services, improve social determinants of health related to transportation accessibility, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and reduce congestion.
With a four-year plan, the project is expected to begin in November, where Circuit will acquire six electric vehicles, both vans and sedans, hire staff, develop, and launch the app, and begin its marketing and outreach plan.
Phase 1 includes finalizing the grand scope of work and contract between Circuit and the city, Circuit’s purchasing of six electric vehicles, hire staff, build, and launch app, and begin marketing and outreach. Phase 2 will launch shuttle services exclusively for seniors 55 and over in Year 1, monitor the program for efficiencies and conduct rider surveys for improvements, and Circuit will sell third party advertising on vehicles, which will help pay for year four of the pilot program. Phase 3, in Year 2, service will extend to the general public for a small fee, and Phase 4, Year 3, the program will be fully funded by CCDC.
After the first year of operation, service will be opened to the general public for a low fare but remain free for seniors. This will help offset the costs of the service and provide for continuing support for the program. A contactless fare program will be implemented and will accept payment via credit card, debit card, or prepaid card. The service will operate at least 12 hours per day, 5 days a week. The service schedule will be aligned with the needs of the community and adjusted with feedback from the community and City and as data from the service comes in. Riders can request rides through the mobile ride request app, and kiosk’s locations.
Chief Sustainability Officer Dennis Gakunga said they are confident that this program will improve the quality of life for many residents and seniors in the city.
“In addition to the grant we were very excited to learn that we received a commitment of up to $1 million from CCDC to expand the Community Shuttle program area and add an additional sedan,” he said. The goal of the program is to improve the mobility options for seniors, as well as providing connections to vital public transit, and key community services, as well as helping the city achieve its reducing greenhouse gases goals, said Gakunga.
Gakunga said he had to give credit to Council member Jill Galvez, who has been involved in this project from the very beginning, seeing the opportunity for the grant and getting staff to immediately investigate it.
Daniel Kramer, Circuit Operations & Business Development director said that he was thankful for the city for taking an initiative-taking approach in creating sustainability in the area.
“This trend is not going away and as Chula Vista grows and develops, we hope to be part of that future,” he said. “What started as a simple beach parking shuttle, has grown to more than 25 locations in major metropolitan markets across the U.S., and providing more than five million rides without burning an ounce of fuel.”
Mayor Mary Casillas Salas said this an exciting opportunity for the community.
“I see so many community benefits from this,” she said. “The area of the service, and the density of it, and seeing how everything is transforming, this is going to be ideal because it is going to alleviate all the short trip parking necessities, and parking when you have to add that into development comes at a great cost. The ability of not only seniors, but people in general to be able to move in a sustainable way from one point to the other.”
Galvez said this was an exciting day for the city and since this service is already running in downtown San Diego, was amazed how fast the door-to-door service worked after taking a day to see it in action and wondered how to get the same service in Chula Vista. She said with all the new types of developments happening in the community, it is losing much parking, and that this program helps solve that problem, along with its many other benefits to the city and residents.
“The more that we use these shuttles, the more successful the program will be,” said Galvez. “Our streets will be safer. Our businesses will have more customers. Our air will be cleaner. And we will have the data to prove the concept so we can apply for more grants to expand the service throughout Chula Vista.”
