SAN DIEGO—The new FRED public-transportation program Downtown offers one more mobility option and will allow those who live, work and visit Downtown to be less dependent on their own personal vehicles, Civic San Diego's president Reese Jarrett tells GlobeSt.com. To provide more efficient and sustainable transit options in San Diego, Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer, Civic San Diego and the Downtown San Diego Partnership recently announced the launch of the new “Free Ride Everywhere Downtown” or “FRED” circulator program in Horton Plaza Park.
The new program, initially funded by Downtown parking-meter revenues under the Community Parking District program, features five-passenger, all-electric vehicles that are designed to augment existing transportation options and make short trips within Downtown's eight neighborhoods easier. The first program of its size in a major metropolitan city, the initial launch included 15 vehicles with the fleet expected to grow to 20 within the first year.
Users will be able to request a pick up via a mobile app called the Free Ride. The shuttles are free to the public thanks to dedicated funding from Civic San Diego, which manages the Downtown Community Parking District, and private sponsorships.
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Carrie Rossenfeld
Carrie Rossenfeld is a reporter for the San Diego and Orange County markets on GlobeSt.com and a contributor to Real Estate Forum. She was a trade-magazine and newsletter editor in New York City before moving to Southern California to become a freelance writer and editor for magazines, books and websites. Rossenfeld has written extensively on topics including commercial real estate, running a medical practice, intellectual-property licensing and giftware. She has edited books about profiting from real estate and has ghostwritten a book about starting a home-based business.
