A Mini-Shuttle Traffic Solution for Coronado
Locals enjoy the relative calm of winter in Coronado but also know the deluge of tourists and traffic will come in summer. Increased traffic clogs our roads, but the influx of cars also brings noise, pollution, and safety risks. Traffic solutions are complex, but one partial solution is for Coronado to offer an electric mini-shuttle within the Village. Emerald Keepers proposes naming the mini-shuttle “OZ" to recall the whimsical yellow brick road of the emerald city.
The OZ mini-shuttle would offer free rides anywhere around town in six-passenger electric vehicles (similar to a larger golf cart with doors) thereby reducing the number of cars driving and searching for parking. Locals and tourists could waive down the mini-shuttle or request a ride through a smartphone app. Examples of OZ operating in Coronado include Shores residents using the phone app to request a ride to the Coronado Hospital while visitors at the Ferry Landing could hail a ride to the Orange Avenue shops. Locals could also use OZ to visit friends across town or enjoy a night out at local restaurants. The mini-shuttles carry booster car seats to help families with young children access the program and pets are also welcome to ride. Depending on the level of interest, OZ could operate between two and six mini-shuttles simultaneously between the hours of 9am and 10pm. The electric mini-shuttles would be dedicated to the Oz service and remain in the City at all times, charging overnight at a City or private site.
Given Coronado’s population concentration and the most popular destinations, the OZ service area would likely run between the North Island Naval Air Station and the Coronado Community Center as well as between the bay and ocean. OZ could also expand to include a larger electric van for service between the village and Cays.
In recent years the City of Coronado has offered free summer shuttle buses along the Orange Avenue corridor between City Hall and Ferry Landing every 15 minutes from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day (102 days). These free summer shuttle buses are contracted through San Diego’s public transportation agency, MTS, that provides drivers and four 40-foot natural gas powered buses with capacity for up to 45 passengers. The 4th of July weekend is the most popular time for the free summer shuttle buses when they average 12 passengers per trip. Overall, the free summer shuttle buses average less than 8 passengers per trip - far less than the 45 passenger capacity. In 2022, the City and Discover Coronado sponsored the free summer shuttle bus at a cost of $192,312. Projected costs for Coronado’s free summer shuttle bus in 2023 are not available. In past years, Coronado City Council has voted on offering the free summer shuttle buses at their March meetings but the 2023 timeline has not been scheduled.
Over 30 cities across eight states, including the California beach communities of Santa Monica, Huntington Beach, and Venice Beach, currently offer mini-shuttles to help manage traffic and parking. Oceanside and Newport Beach launched a mini-shuttle program specifically to address summer crowds. Chula Vista introduced a mini-shuttle for seniors over 55 in summer 2022 and plans to expand the service to all ages in 2023. Downtown San Diego’s mini-shuttle program started in 2016, expanding to 20 mini-shuttles operating seven days a week and serving over 1.1 million riders. These existing programs provide a proven model for Coronado to successfully implement a mini-shuttle program in our town.
Mini-shuttle operations in all the above locations are managed by the private company, Circuit, operating since 2011. In 2022, local government agency SANDAG selected Circuit as their pre-approved mini-shuttle vendor for all San Diego cities (including Coronado) which circumvents the need for each city to issue a vendor request for proposal. By contracting with Circuit, Coronado would not need to buy or maintain vehicles, hire staff, arrange for insurance, or create the phone app; Circuit offers a turn-key operation that could launch in Coronado in Spring 2023.
Mini-shuttle programs are typically subsidized by cities and/or private stakeholders so the service is free to riders. Revenue from advertisements on the outside of the shuttles, or fares, helps offset some of the operating costs. Actual costs vary by levels and hours of service but would be comparable to Coronado’s free summer shuttle bus.
The City of Coronado’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) recognizes transportation as the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions so includes multiple initiatives to reduce the number of vehicle miles driven in Coronado. One initiative identified in section 4.4 of the draft CAP is to provide a mini-shuttle service such as OZ by 2030. The City report identifies benefits of a mini shuttle include: improved air quality, fuel savings, reduced vehicle miles, and improved public health. Offering the OZ mini shuttle starting in 2023 would provide immediate value to residents, visitors, and local businesses while helping the City meet its climate action goals.
While Coronado’s ongoing traffic problems require many solutions, OZ can address traffic congestion in concentrated areas such as Orange Avenue, the beaches, and Ferry Landing. Accordingly, Coronado Main Street, the Chamber of Commerce and the Coronado Hospital all support OZ as they see the value for residents, visitors, customers, and patients.
Are you ready to take the OZ? Please take the short survey below about your interest in the OZ mini-shuttle that can help keep Coronado Emerald Green, Ocean Blue. Wouldn’t you rather see mini electric shuttles than big buses on our streets?
SURVEY RESULTS
In January 2023 Emerald Keepers proposed the OZ mini-shuttle to the Coronado community through articles in the Eagle & Journal, Coronado Times, our website, and social media. We invited people to provide feedback on OZ through an online survey.
Within a few days over 300 people responded to the survey with the following results:
50% of respondents had taken the free summer shuttle bus in 2022 while 50% had not
84% of respondents said they would be interested in taking OZ
Another 11% answered they would maybe be interested in taking OZ
5% responded they would not be interested in taking OZ
Of those not interested in taking OZ, 91% said they would support OZ for others
Most popular responses for why people were interested in taking OZ:
Avoid parking (92%)
Avoid driving (72%)
Reduce emissions (69%)
Most popular destinations for the OZ included:
Orange Avenue businesses with 86% respondents
Ferry landing with 73% respondents
Beach/recreation center with 58% respondents
The survey included the opportunity to provide open ended feedback - 56% of respondents offered additional feedback. Comments fell into the following categories:
36% of comments - make the mini-shuttle year round
30% of comments - we need this for our senior citizens
23% of comments - include service to the Cays
11% of comments - make it a pet friendly service
Survey feedback was overwhelmingly in support of Coronado offering the OZ mini-shuttle!
Circuit is the company that has the RFP through SANDAG for all members (Coronado included) and is standing by to make a presentation to the City. They have mini-shuttles located in over 40 cities and are highly successful!
