West Palm Beach’s signature blue shuttles will offer their last rides this week, as the city moves to unveil a $5 million transit system by August.
The city announced it will shut down the RideWPB fixed route and on-demand pick-up services on Sunday, May 31, to switch to a 100% electric vehicle fleet expected to launch this fall.
In the meantime, West Palm Beach will offer residents and visitors on-demand transportation through the Rose Trolley and the Circuit On-Demand service that will continue operating from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
“The new mobility service will deliver a modern, expansive transportation experience designed to make getting around West Palm Beach easier, faster and more reliable,” the city said in a news release.
“The upgraded system will combine on-demand and fixed-route services into one enhanced mobility network focused on convenience, accessibility, and improved connectivity throughout the city.”
West Palm Beach to shut down RideWPB shuttle service
RideWPB is a free transit service operating across West Palm Beach’s downtown since 2023. It serves about 20,000 riders per month, according to city data.
The blue RideWPB vans carry passengers along a 15-stop route from South Tamarind Avenue and the Tri-Rail station to the west, to South Olive Avenue on the east. It also offers on-demand pick up service for as low as $2.
City spokesperson Kathleen Joy said the RideWPB service was set up to meet transportation needs while the city collected data and evaluated options for a long-term transportation system.
West Palm Beach to invest $5 million on new transit system
West Palm Beach will invest $5 million in the first year to fund its new transit system and up to $8 million per year during the following four years.
The city’s new transit system will feature a high-frequency, fixed-route program and on-demand pick-up service. It will also offer expanded service hours from 6 a.m. to midnight, compared to the current hours of operation of 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The new program will cover expanded areas east of Interstate 95, opening access to more than 100,000 people in and around West Palm Beach. The city chose Via, a transit tech company based in New York, as the provider.
The goal is to shift 25% of West Palm Beach’s single-use vehicle traffic to the new transit system, according to city planners.
Joy said the new system will operate on a performance-based contract, instead of an hourly-based contract, that allows the city provide transportation quicker and evaluate its service.
“This gives the city a much higher level of control over service quality, reliability and overall user experience,” the city’s prepared statement said. “The intent is to deliver a more responsive, efficient, and integrated mobility option that better supports access to downtown and reduces reliance on single-occupant vehicle trips.”
Via will bring 100% electric vehicle fleet that include: seven Karan e-JEST mini-vans that can hold 19 passengers each; six Volkswagen ID. Buzzes; four Ford E-transit vans that can handle wheelchairs; and eight autonomous vehicle shuttles.
Joy said the city is still negotiating the final details of the deal, including a new name for the service, but added the new fleet of electric vehicles is expected to roll out in August.
Valentina Palm covers immigration and West Palm Beach for The Palm Beach Post. Email her at vpalm@pbpost.com and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @ValenPalmB.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Last rides for RideWPB shuttles as city plans $5M upgrade
Reporting by Valentina Palm, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
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