Free Shuttle Buses to Serve Coronado This Summer

Originally published 8:05 p.m. June 18.

You may want to hop on the bus this summer in Coronado. 

It's free. 

At least it will be in July, August and September following a vote by the Coronado City Council Tuesday.

As opposed to one bus making nine hourly round-trips from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., two buses will make 26 round trips a day from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The buses will be wrapped in an advertisement to notify people that the service is free. 

The summer shuttle buses will run along Route 904 which begins near the Marriott resort and Tidelands Park, ends at City Hall and makes stops at the Ferry Landing and along Orange Avenue.

Free and more frequent service will likely begin around July 4, said City Manager Blair King.

The summer bus shuttle is a pilot program which is expected to cost the city about $54,000, or about $44,000 more than the city would typically spend during the three-month period. The Coronado Tourism Improvement District has agreed to spend $13,000 to wrap the buses in advertisements, city staff said.

City Councilmembers were given four options ranging from one bus once an hour from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and cost $10,000 and three buses which would pick up passengers every 15 minutes for $121,000 for the three-month trial period.

"I think the point of this is to test the concept and I don't think it's a very interesting test if we stick with the one-hour frequency," said Councilman Mike Woiwode. "I think it has to be a timesaver for the user. If you can walk there just as fast then why would you get on the bus?"

Three buses able to pick people up every 15 minutes would be ideal but the price is too high, Woiwode said.

Coordination with the ferry schedule could be an effective use of the shuttle bus, Mayor Casey Tanaka said, but the success of the program may hinge on the extent to which the public is aware the free bus program exists.

"There's certainly a marketing and promotion element where we need all who are part to let people know this is there," Tanaka said.

If the pilot is successful, Councilwoman Barbara Denny and Councilman Richard Bailey suggested that Coronado MainStreet and the Coronado Chamber of Commerce contribute to the shuttle bus program in the future. 

Members of both the chamber and MainStreet expressed their support of the pilot program which will transport people along the city's commercial districts.

During the 2013-14 fiscal year the city plans to give the Coronado Chamber of Commerce $112,200 and Coronado MainStreet $103,765.

A total 15 organizations will receive a total $1.28 million for the 2013-14 Community Group Grant program.

Mayor Tanaka disagrees with the idea that either business group would contribute to the program. Each is funded by the city to fulfill certain tasks.

"I mean that would almost imply that we had given them a faulty amount," he said.

What do you think of the new shuttle bus program? Will you use it? Share in comments.