Boca Raton’s new transit service: Everything you need to know about on-demand rides

An on-demand transit service will come to Boca Raton in the next several weeks, providing little to no-cost rides to some of the city's most popular spots.

As soon as next month, you might be able to step off the Brightline station in Boca Raton, request a free ride through an app, and within 10 minutes, hop into an electric shuttle emblazoned with a city logo and get dropped off anywhere in the downtown — perhaps the Mizner Park Amphitheater or the tennis center.

The City Council approved a contract Tuesday with Circuit Transit Inc. to provide on-demand rides to and from specific areas in the city, for little to no cost.

“I am so excited,” City Councilmember Yvette Drucker told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Drucker recently expressed frustration during a meeting about how the process to bring a “circulator” service to the city has dragged on, citing other cities that have already forged ahead with their own transit systems.

“It took a long time, but in the end, the product that was delivered was exactly what we needed in our area,” she said. “I know it’s going to work. There’s going to be a demand.”

How it will work

The service, which is expected to roll out within the next six weeks, will operate as a pilot program for the first year. After that, the city and Circuit will assess if any changes need to be made.

Rides will be available for request through Circuit’s app. According to the current deal with the city, Circuit will have to ensure riders wait no more than 10 minutes for their ride. Each trip must either start or end in the downtown area to places such as Mizner Park, the downtown library or Silver Palm Park.

One way to enforce the 10-minute, wait-time maximum is by charging for rides starting or ending outside of the designated downtown Boca Raton area. As of now, the cost for those rides is $2 per rider and $1 for each additional rider with a $5 cap for a one-way trip.

This cost may help deter inflated wait times spurred by people frivolously requesting then canceling rides.

Rides remaining within the downtown area — from the Brightline station to Villagio in Mizner Park, for example — will be completely free.

This does not mean the service won’t expand its reach beyond the current boundaries in the future.

“Within not even 24 hours, I’m already getting contacted about adding (the service) to other zones,” Drucker said.

During Tuesday’s meeting, city municipal services director Zachary Bihr said after city staff members collect data, they will identify other possible service areas or consider diminishing the service area, depending on how the pilot program plays out.

“Optional service points” have already been marked for future consideration, including the Tri-Rail Station, Florida Atlantic University, Gumbo Limbo Nature Center and the city’s beach spots.

The hours of operation during which people could request rides is from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Thursday, from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday, from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday.

These times will be subject to change depending on usage.

“Let’s say the vendor comes to us and says, ‘We don’t have any activity on Sunday until one in the afternoon,'” City Manager George Brown said during Tuesday’s meeting. “We have the flexibility of amending the contract.”

And according to city documents, an electric shuttle would be used for the downtown-only rides while Teslas and Kias may be used for rides requested from anywhere in the service zone.

Each Circuit driver will have to be at least 21, go through driver safety training, have a driver’s license that’s been active for at least three years and a driving record free from accidents and tickets.

The city estimated the annual cost of the partnership will be nearly $400,000 every year.

In a statement, Circuit project manager Jason Bagley said the service will “complement Brightline and other transit options.”

“This will serve the entire community, simplifying how you get around, connecting to, and throughout downtown,” he said.

A transit match

Shortly after the Brightline station first opened in Boca Raton in December 2022, Circuit provided a shuttle service exclusively for Brightline customers in the city, but the service eventually came to a halt.

In its proposal to the City of Boca Raton seeking to provide services, Circuit CEO and co-founder Alexander Esposito wrote because of its pre-existing “regional presence” and “operational footprint” in the city, the services will launch no more than 30 days after signing the contract.

“Circuit firmly believes that our proposed project plan will reduce traffic congestion, alleviate carbon emissions, bolster economic growth in the community, and most importantly, provide an equitable and sustainable transportation solution for all residents and visitors of Boca Raton,” Esposito wrote. “We look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with the City of Boca Raton and key local stakeholders, such as the Community Redevelopment Agency, to transform the city’s transportation landscape positively.”

According to its proposal, Circuit offers services across South Florida including in Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Miami, West Palm Beach, Pompano Beach, Boynton Beach, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea and Wilton Manors. The service has a national reach, too, with a foothold in New Jersey, Massachusetts, New York, Texas and California.

Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner Steve Glassman said he’s heard nothing but positive comments about Circuit in the city, and the service has since extended its routes in Fort Lauderdale.

“Ridership numbers have really skyrocketed,” he said. “People seem to really like the service.”

Getting to the finish line

During Tuesday’s meeting, Drucker, who referred to herself as a “transit nerd champion,” was not the only person eager for the service’s implementation.

“It’s something we’ve been talking about for a long time, and I really appreciate us getting to the finish line,” Council member Marc Wigder said.

After Widger asked if any one from the public had any thoughts about the service, Boca Raton resident Glenn Monroe said he loves “this kind of service.”

“I hate looking for parking when we head downtown,” he said.

Mayor Scott Singer said he’s optimistic about the service’s effectiveness.

“We’ll be nimble,” he said, adding: “We’ll see where it works, and if it doesn’t work, we’ll tweak.”