Living downtown is great, and soon, getting from one downtown neighborhood to the next could get much easier. Plans are underway by the Downtown San Diego Partnership to create shuttle service that will loop to $1 bus service from East Village to Balboa Park, the central business district (CBD) to Hillcrest, and the CBD to Little Italy.
The proposal intends to make transportation for business people, visitors, and downtown residents easier and more cost effective for all. An increasingly difficult time finding parking during the daytime has been noticed by officials, and this circular shuttle system intends to make it much easier to park your car in one spot and still get around town easily. The idea of job growth, tourist attraction, and great downtown living are at the core of the foundation of this new transit system.
Downtown and Uptown planners have come together to concoct this plan. Workers, visitors, and residents would be able to enjoy an easy ride up and down Sixth Avenue and around City Centre throughout the day, particularly at peak hours. Nine vehicles would operate the three routes, which would provide transit to riders for only a buck a ride. Kids and members of our military would ride for free. At this time, the rides are planned to run daily until midnight. Other bus and shuttle services are planned to be easy connecting points for riders of this circulator shuttle. The BRT, Coaster, Trolley, and the Port’s Big Bay Shuttle are some of the partners that are planned for this potential shuttle service.
San Diego’s residents and workers will now have a greener transportation that keeps sustainability in mind. This transit system would help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while freeing up time for people that would otherwise be circling the blocks looking for an unoccupied meter.
The total cost of the project is expected to be around $2.1 million. Some of the meter money that you and your neighbors have spent in recent times will go toward the funding of this project. CivicSD plans to contribute about $600,000 of meter money towards the development of this project, and the Uptown Partnership plans to give about $400,000 from funds that come from a similar source, according to U-T San Diego. Funding interest is reportedly pouring in since word started spreading about this project.
Are you San Diego Downtown Condo owner and excited about the idea of the San Diego Circulating Shuttle? If so, we’d love to hear your thoughts! Feel free to talk about this project in the ‘Comments’ section below! If you’re looking for a great downtown place where you can set up your own roots, contact me today!