After a successful pilot program in 2024, the electric mini shuttle program is set to return possibly as soon as next summer.
No official decisions were made at an Oct. 20 meeting, but City Council members voted to consider renewing the program at a later date after more discussion.
The shuttle, more widely known as the Island Express, was a free, door-to-door electrical vehicle service that ran in the summer and fall of 2024, working more like a dial-to-ride service rather than a bus system. It was launched, in part, with the hope of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
A request for proposal was sent out a few months ago and, at the Oct. 20 City Council meeting, city staff suggested Crosby Street Transit LLC, a transportation service with local programs already operating in San Diego and El Cajon.
The proposal with Crosby Street Transit LLC, also called VIA, would resume the door-to-door service and would run year-round. However, based on the City Council’s direction, there would now be a cost to users.
The Island Express tallied almost 53,000 rides in the Village, which includes the main parts of the city, and 5,500 in the Cays during its six-month period. The average ride cost the city $7 per person in the Village and $29 in the Cays, according to the staff report.
If the service is renewed, Downey suggested charging 50% of the cost to apassengers with a $1 discount for Coronado residents. With no discount, that would be around $4.50 for Village riders and more than $14 for those coming to and from the Cays.
How will those numbers potentially drop once we have some sharing of cost with the riders?
Coronado City Councilmember Mark Fleming
“How will those numbers potentially drop once we have some sharing of cost with the riders?” Council member Mark Fleming asked.
The city applied for a grant award through San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), but Coronado Senior Planner Tricia Olsen reported that the city’s proposal was not recommended for funding by SANDAG.
However, Olsen pointed out that there is $300,000 allocated for community projects through Discover Coronado which this program would be eligible for.
“Everybody up here on the dias would like to do this if it’s financially feasible,” Downey said. “We need to look for other funding sources.”
