CITY OF CARLSBAD, NCTD AND SANDAG hold press conference to Launch “Carlsbad connector” Shuttle pilot service at Carlsbad Poinsettia Station

The “Carlsbad Connector” – a COASTER shuttle connecting commuters to workplaces and areas in Carlsbad – will officially launch Monday, Aug. 19, 2019. It is a new pilot service and the first program of its kind in San Diego County.

The shuttle service is a partnership between the City of Carlsbad, North County Transit District (NCTD) and the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG). Designed to bridge the gap between the Carlsbad Poinsettia COASTER Station and key surrounding areas, it will operate like Uber and Lyft, using an app-based technology developed by RideCo and operated by WeDriveU. Commuters will be able to book trips on 12-passenger vans that will provide transportation between the station and the city’s primary industrial and commercials cores, located west of Interstate 5 and in the McClellan-Palomar Airport area. The shuttles will drop employees off within a short walk from their workplace.

 

At the press conference, Carlsbad Mayor Matt Hall, Carlsbad Councilmember and SANDAG Board Member Cori Schumacher, SANDAG Vice-Chair and Encinitas Mayor Catherine Blakespear, NCTD Board Chair and Encinitas Councilmember Tony Kranz, and Carlsbad Mayor Pro Tem and NCTD Board Member Priya Bhat-Patel and will discuss the innovative pilot service and the benefits to commuters and the environment.

 

Carlsbad Connector combines the partners’ goals to increase COASTER ridership, help commuters get to their destination in a convenient and timely manner, and reduce emissions by decreasing the number of employees who drive to work alone. Learn more at www.CarlsbadConnector.com.

WHAT:                 Carlsbad Connector Pilot Service Launch Press Conference

WHEN:                  Monday, Aug. 19, 2019

5:00 a.m.-7:45 a.m. Pre-Press Conference Interviews with Carlsbad Connector Spokespeople and Commuters
8:15 a.m. Press Conference

8:27 a.m. Shuttle Ribbon Cutting/Photo Opp. with Speakers/City Leaders

8:36 a.m. COASTER Arrives; Commuters Board Shuttles

WHERE:                Carlsbad Poinsettia Station
6511 Avenida Encinas, Carlsbad, CA 92009

INTERVIEWS:
Carlsbad Mayor Matt Hall
Carlsbad Councilmember and SANDAG Board Member Cori Schumacher
SANDAG Vice-Chair and Encinitas Mayor Catherine Blakespear
NCTD Board Chair and Encinitas Councilmember Tony Kranz
Carlsbad Mayor Pro Tem and NCTD Board Member Priya Bhat-Patel
COASTER Commuters

VISUALS:
                             Elected officials discussing the pilot service with the COASTER track/train in                                 the background
Ribbon cutting/unveiling of new commuter shuttles
Commuters exiting the COASTER, boarding shuttles and riding to their                                         workplaces

 

RSVP:                   Jenna Brossman
jenna.brossman@nv5.com, 951-973-8389

ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION:

• The shuttles will serve commuters arriving on the COASTER trains between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., and departing between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. The service also provides transportation from noon to 3:00 p.m. to accommodate train users who need a ride for lunch.
• Commuters who have COASTER monthly passes or RegionPlus day passes ride for free; non-pass holders pay $2.50 for a one-way ride.
• Businesses may arrange with RideCo to cover the cost of their employees’ trips.
• The pilot service supports the City of Carlsbad’s Climate Action Plan, which aims to reduce the number of commuters who drive solo to jobs within the city, and the city’s Transportation Demand Management Program (TDM) that seeks to reduce emissions by decreasing the number of employees who drive to work alone.
• Follow #CarlsbadConnector on social media.