BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. — Boynton Beach is the third largest city in Palm Beach County and it's growing.
"As the development happens in most cities, it becomes harder and harder to find parking to drive around," Marcia Levine said.
She said the growth is good and bad.
"As exciting as that is, I'm all for the development of areas, but the transportation gets harder," Levine said.
However, help is on the way to reduce traffic in Boynton Beach.
Mayor Ty Penserga came up with the idea for the rideshare program called Coastal Cruiser, which debuts Saturday.
The service is Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. All rides are available on-demand, and need to be booked via the Ride Circuit app. The Coastal Cruiser fleet will feature all EV vehicles – two Kia Niro sedans and two GEMs, including one ADA accessible vehicle.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at p.m. Saturday at the Centennial Park & Amphitheaterat 120 East Ocean Avenue. The ceremony will coincide with the Boynton Beach Spring Market.
"We've got a parking problem; we've got a traffic problem," he said. "Let's find a solution, let's get people moving and so this is that solution."
The Coastal Cruiser by Circuit will be available for residents and visitors. The environmentally friendly, all electric vehicles will cover areas from East Ocean Avenue, Seacrest Boulevard to Federal Highway. It will also drop you off and pick you up at the beach.
Zone 1 will encompass a portion of the CRA area, including city hall and municipal building, Boynton Harbor Marina, and businesses and restaurants. Zone 2 will be designated to transport passengers to Oceanfront Park for access to beaches.
Part of the city's big motivation with starting the program is helping those who live in the northeastern portion of the city, which is considered a food desert.
"Right now, they have no access to healthy food," Penserga said. "But with this one dollar ride we can get them access to all of the grocery stores and retailers all around the area."
The city is able to charge only a dollar because local businesses like The Butcher and The Bar can pay for advertising opportunities on the vehicles to offset the cost of running the program.
"This four-block strip here from the Intracoastal to just past the railroad tracks there's about 30+ small independent businesses that would love to have a little bit more noise made about them," owner Eric Anderson said. "I think this is one of many ways this can happen."
Levine said with Coastal Cruising she won't have to drive much.
"We can now get around town, because it's not always easy to get a ride and we need transportation," Levine said.
Fares start at just $1 per rider for Zone 1, with rides in Zone 2 $2 for the first rider and $1 for each additional rider. To celebrate the launch, community members who download the Circuit app will receive their first two rides for free during the first 30 days.
