BOCA RATON, FL —Boca Raton's on-demand shuttle service is heading farther south for the summer.
The city is expanding its BocaConnect pilot program to cover a larger portion of the barrier island, including areas south of the Boca Raton Inlet, the Waterstone Resort & Marina, and nearby residential streets and restaurants, according to the city. The summer expansion runs from July 1 through Sept. 30.
For residents and visitors trying to reach more of the city's beaches, it means a wider service map — and, in some cases, a free ride.
BocaConnect is an on-demand shuttle operated through the Ride Circuit app by Circuit Transit Inc. Rides that begin and end inside the base "red" service area remain free, according to the city. That base area covers south of Glades Road, east of I-95, north of the Hillsboro Canal, and west of NE 5th Way / SE 5th Avenue / Royal Palm Way, plus a stretch of the barrier island from Gumbo Limbo Nature Center to the Boca Raton Inlet.
Rides that begin or end in the newly added "blue/green" area south of the inlet cost $2 per rider, according to the city. Each additional passenger is $1, with a $5 cap per one-way trip.
Any trip touching the expanded area must also start or end in the base red zone, the city said. Rides that both begin and end inside the blue/green zone will not be available.
Wait times after requesting a ride are 10 minutes or less, according to the city. Circuit's fleet is all-electric.
Hours of service, according to the city:
- Monday through Thursday: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Friday: 7 a.m. to 2 a.m.
- Saturday: 9 a.m. to 2 a.m.
- Sunday: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Rides are booked through the Ride Circuit app, available for iOS and Android.
BocaConnect launched on June 17, 2024, after the City Council approved a contract with Circuit Transit Inc. at an April 9 meeting, according to the city. The service was designed as a first-mile-last-mile option focused on the downtown area and the Brightline station.
According to the city, staff will review data from the pilot to determine future service locations, which could include the Tri-Rail station, the Spanish River Library, Florida Atlantic University and additional beach areas.
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