West Palm Beach has rolled out a new electric shuttle that charges $1 a ride, giving residents a way to travel for less than the price of parking.
Called West Palm Move, the service connects Northwood, downtown West Palm Beach, and the Norton Museum area.
Here's what to know
As WPTV reported, city officials say it is meant to give people another reason to leave their cars at home. Riders pay $1 for each trip. Officials say the shuttle is intended to help relieve traffic on busy downtown streets while offering a lower-emission option than driving.
The city has also made short wait times a key part of the service. Deputy City Administrator Armando Fana said the fixed-route system was planned so riders can expect quick pickups.
"Right now we're starting with seven (vehicles), but really what matters is the pickup times," Fana told the station. "No matter what time you get to the stop, you won't wait more than 10 minutes because that's what people want. Frequency."
More background
WPTV reported that the shuttle's low fare and electric fleet make it a more affordable, lower-pollution choice than car ownership and downtown parking.
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After his first ride, resident John Sampson praised the service.
"This is where I'm going. I have breakfast, then I go downtown," Sampson said to the station. "They're great."
Sampson usually gets around by walking or using Palm Tran, and he said the shuttle is more convenient.
Seemingly, the lone hangup with the service could be a ripple effect that could impact nearby neighborhoods. WPTV caught up with Cynthia McCallister, who said her nearby neighborhood of Mango Promenade might bear the brunt of shuttle users.
"Well, you can see our little streets are full," McCallister remarked. "The problem is that they haven't made any provision for where people will park in order to get on the bus when it comes; it starts right at the tip of our neighborhood."
The outlet said the city is undergoing a study to find out if any changes to parking rules are necessary to keep adjacent neighborhoods from being overcrowded with parked cars.
What's being done?
Officials told WPTV they want riders to see West Palm Move as something beyond a typical bus route, with attention placed on the overall quality of the experience as well as the fare.
"We want frequency, we want cleanliness, and we want people to feel like they're in a premier service," Fana said.
City leaders have also framed the launch as part of a wider effort to rethink transportation as West Palm Beach grows. They say the electric vehicles and frequent fixed-route service are designed to reduce congestion on downtown streets.
Sampson said the shuttle feels similar to having personal transportation.
"It's just like having your own vehicle; you just step out there, you jump on, you jump off," Sampson remarked to the station.
Where can I learn more?
West Palm Move is part of a broader push to make short city trips cheaper and cleaner without leaning so heavily on private cars. Similar efforts in Florida and beyond show how electric transit, from low-cost rideshares to full bus fleets, is being used to ease congestion and lower costs.
• In Tampa, DASH launched a Tesla-powered rideshare service with fares starting at $2.
• Across U.S. districts, electric buses can save $73,000 to $173,000 over their lifetimes.
• In Brisbane, officials unveiled game-changing features of one city's new electric bus system.
Across those efforts, transit providers are trying to win riders with a mix of low fares, convenience, and cleaner technology. That helps explain why West Palm Beach is betting $1 rides and short waits can change how people get around downtown.
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