To reduce traffic, emissions and parked vehicles, the city of Naples is considering a free electric, micro-transit service to shuttle employees, shoppers and tourists to the downtown Community Redevelopment District.
The seven-member Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board voted unanimously Aug. 26 to ask city staff to seek proposals for a fixed-route pilot program with a mobile app to cover public garages, parks, Naples Depot, City Hall, Fifth Avenue South, Naples Design District, Gulfview Middle School, NCH Baker Hospital, businesses and residential areas near the route. The CRAAB eliminated a Baker Park stop due to traffic delays but also recommended considering proposals for an on-demand service.
“This is the first time that the city is introducing a fixed route within the city and within the CRA,” CRA Administrator Anita Jenkins said of the service, Downtown Shuttle, adding that city staff will put out a Request for Proposals or Request for Information after CRA approval.
Bidders must have Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant vehicles and provide data on ridership, peak times, popular stops and attractions. CRAAB Chairman Mark Komanecky suggested a minimum wait-time guarantee and a heat map for staff to analyze, while Vice Chair Maegan Evans recommended a cost comparison between six-, eight- and 12-seat vehicles.
Since 2017, Naples-based Slidr has operated a free, on-demand shuttle service funded by businesses and other sponsors that goes as far north as Venetian Village and south to Port Royal. Slidr, which has partnered with the Fifth Avenue South Business Improvement District since 2020, already provided data to the city.
Established in 1994, the CRA covers about 500 acres of downtown, commercial, civic and residential uses bordered by Seventh Avenue North, Gordon River, Sixth Avenue South and Third Street South. Because a parking garage was never built on the west end of Fifth Avenue South, the route will cover that area.
Over the years, the increasing desire to live, work and visit downtown created traffic and parking demands, and the CRA said a free shuttle would improve connections between CRA destinations, relieve congestion and reduce emissions.
Discussions began in April, when Slidr CEO Mike Trombino suggested the CRAAB consider a shuttle service. That prompted a recommendation to the CRA—the City Council acting as the CRA—which agreed to provide $50,000 for a pilot program.
Staff prepared a draft scope of services and met with the Fifth Avenue South Business Improvement District and Naples Design District Association to get feedback on the route, which focuses on 10th Street South and Eighth Street South, heading north to Seventh Avenue North and south to Eighth Avenue South.
Staff proposed hours of 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, while the districts recommended 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
“Given the amount of funding … the hours may be more limited in the beginning until it’s a proven concept,” Jenkins said, noting the city will market it, including posting QR codes that link to a mobile app and website to show route maps and times for the 10 stops.
The city also may consider other stops in nearby residential areas, such as Naples Square.
CRAAB member Mary Waller said Naples wouldn’t be successful seeking a minimum of one shuttle and suggested at least two simultaneous shuttles heading in and out.
“You know there’s going to be a delay for usage,” Waller said. “It cuts down on the amount of people that’s going to use it because they know they’re going to have to sit, stand there and wait and wait.”
Jason Bagley, a partner with Circuit electric shuttles, which is in seven states and Washington, D.C., said on-demand is a better option.
“Most cities are moving away from fixed route because on-demand is far more efficient, user-friendly and cost-effective,” Bagley said, adding that its cost per rider is $5-$7 in South Florida, compared with $40-$80 by other fixed-route services.
Slidr’s busiest hours are 4 to 8 p.m., with most riders going to the CRA district, Trombino told the CRAAB, adding, “This season, we’ve moved over 80,000 people, over 40,000 rides and the wait times were less than 10 minutes.”
