A GEM OF AN IDEA

FROM THE GRF

Committee to consider transit service that could save big bucks

Leisure World residents may soon have a new free ride around the community, an alternative that could save their fellow residents over $100,000 a year.

The GRF Board of Directors has begun committee-level consideration of a proposal to bring free point-to-point transportation by request to the community.

The Member Services Committee will more fully explore employing Circuit Transportation, which operates similar transit services in Long Beach, Huntington Beach, Belmont Shore and Seal Beach.

The plan would replace the fixed-schedule, fixed-route Minibuses that now provide transportation.

Circuit, a New York-based firm that provides personal

Circuit, a New York-based firm, employs all-electric GEM cars to ferry passengers from one location directly to another. The system is being considered by the GRF. transit services in eight states, employs all-electric GEM cars to ferry passengers from one location directly to another.

Riders request a pick up by one of the six-passenger GEMs by phoning, using a cell phone app or hailing a GEM traveling along a street.

The proposed service will also offer a fully ADA-compliant electric van with a wheelchair lift for passengers with disabilities.

The plan, which emerged from cost-cutting meetings that included all GRF Board members, promises significant savings.

The Minibuses have lost 50% of their ridership since COVID, and a 10-fold increase in the vehicle liability insurance rates this year now means a single ride costs the community over $18.

Circuit’s tentative proposal would transport Leisure World’s annual ridership for about $115,000 less than the current Minibus system.

The savings come from personnel, insurance, equipment and maintenance costs, as well as reserve contributions to replace the buses.

The GRF study group investigating the proposal also indicated the sale of the community’s present bus fleet could yield an additional $280,000 that could be added to the community’s funds.

The proposal’s next step is a discussion at the April 9 meeting of the Member Services Committee.

More details can be found at www.ridecircuit.com/ride. —William Thompson GRF vice president