Free shuttle available in Huntington Beach next year

Huntington Beach will provide a free shuttle service throughout the city next year, thanks in part to a grant funded by the Orange County Transportation Authority.

The seasonal shuttle service, which will run about 110 days between April and September, costs $1,019,744 over seven years. The majority of those costs will be paid for through a $917,770 grant from OCTA, which is provided through Measure M, Orange County’s half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements.

The city and Visit Huntington Beach, a group promoting tourism in Surf City, will split the remainder of the cost, which also covers upgrades and modifications to existing transit stops being used for the service, said Bob Stachelski, transportation manager for the city.

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The Huntington Beach City Council in March approved the public works department’s request to send in an application for the funding, which was granted by OCTA last week.

OCTA, in total, approved more than $26.7 million countywide for city shuttles and trolleys.

The Huntington Beach shuttle, which will be free to ride, will be provided only on weekends prior to Memorial Day and after Labor Day. Daily service will be provided during the summer. It will run from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on most days, and from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on summer weekends and holidays.

There will be 15 citywide stops, including downtown, the beach, Central Park, Bella Terra and OCTA transit service routes.

Stachelski said the city was inspired to start this transit program after the success of Visit Huntington Beach’s summer shuttle service and the city’s current shuttles for the Fourth of July and US Open of Surfing.

The city decided to implement the shuttle system to benefit residents in a variety of ways, like being able to travel around the city while leaving their cars at home, he said.

“We recognize that parking along the coast can be challenging and may limit the ability of some people to come and enjoy the coast,” he said. “The transit service should help to provide additional opportunities for everyone to access the coastal area. ... Someone at the beach could take the shuttle to restaurants in many different areas of the city for additional options.”

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Brittany Woolsey, brittany.woolsey@latimes.com

Twitter: @BrittanyWoolsey

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