FAIRHOPE – The city golf-cart shuttle that has been running downtown on a trial run will become a regular service in 2022, Fairhope officials said.
The shuttle ran for a two-week test period during the Christmas holidays. The service was popular with passengers and local businesses, Paige Crawford, director of community development, said.
“It was very well received,” Crawford said. “The merchants were very excited to have it. During the holidays, we had a lot of traffic and we’re very excited about it as well.”
The shuttle ran between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday for two weeks starting Dec. 13. Crawford said city officials are looking at a program to provide the service from Monday through Saturday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
She said some downtown merchants have asked if the service could run earlier to allow employees to park at the downtown garage and use the shuttle to get to work.
While the shuttle was running, Mayor Sherry Sullivan said the service would allow people to use the downtown parking deck and be taken to locations around the Fairhope Central Business District.
“We are starting to operate a shuttle in downtown Fairhope,” Sullivan said. “We’re really excited to have that. It’s a handicap accessible golf cart that if you park in the parking deck, you’ll be able to utilize. Right now, we’re doing it Monday through Friday from 10 to 2 until we kind of get our feet wet and get some policies and procedures in place with the shuttle.”
Crawford said the city could also use the shuttle during special events to carry passengers to downtown locations or nearby areas, such as the pier and bluffs for events such as the city July 4 fireworks display.
While the two-week test period was running, the shuttle was driven by a volunteer. Crawford said City Council members have expressed an interest in continuing to use volunteers to operate the service.
One proposal discussed when the shuttle was ordered last summer would be for drivers to be issued a ticket when they use the downtown parking garage. The ticket would allow the vehicle driver and passengers to use the shuttle.
The shuttle can carry up to six passengers.
She said the shuttle is longer than most golf carts to allow the use of a lift to make the vehicle accessible to handicapped passengers.
Once the service is in operation, passengers will be able to park in the downtown garage and call to request a ride to locations in the CBD, Crawford said.
