City-Funded EV Shuttle? Manhattan Beach Might Try Again
Apr 06, 2026 09:56AM ● By MB News Staff
Eight years after ending a downtown-area free shuttle service, the city of Manhattan Beach will consider options for a new citywide shuttle that will charge riders a modest fee.
A mixed fleet of 3-5 "neighborhood electric vehicles" (NEVs or "golf carts"), electric sedans and an accessible van would be deployed under various plans that city staff will present to the city council on Tuesday.
Manhattan Beach residents could download an app and use it to call for a car to move from any part of the city to another, with fares of $2.50-$5.00 per ride. The service proposed for the city would be operated by Circuit, which boasts service in more than 40 areas currently, concentrated in California, Florida, Texas and the northeast.
A 6-month pilot program would cost between $367,000-$486,000, which would come from the city's Proposition A funds (transit-directed funds collected by LA County from a half-cent sales tax). The program costs would vary depending on the service days, hours and fares selected by city council for the pilot. The most expansive service hours contemplated by the city staff's presentation are 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily, with an option for more restricted service from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
The city would receive 70% of fare revenue and 50% of any advertising revenue, credited toward balances due under the fee agreement with Circuit. One cost that the city would bear is for charging of the electric vehicles used in the program, estimated from about $21,000 to over $29,000 across six months, depending on the service levels chosen for the program.
The pilot project is responsive to a city council request for options to explore "microtransit" in November 2025 as a part of a parking management strategy, reducing traffic and congestion principally in the downtown area and the North End business district. A major point of the pilot program is to collect data on usage and impacts, as well as to ensure quality of the service.
The "business model" was entirely advertising-driven at the time. The company providing the Downtowner tried to make a shift to a model involving city funding as well, but did not adapt in time to continue in Manhattan Beach.
By contrast to the Downtowner service, Circuit is an established firm operating in dozens of cities and areas with a mix of city funding, grant funding, fare revenue and advertising revenue.
Long Beach and Santa Monica currently operate free shuttles through Circuit, concentrating in tourist-heavy areas, while Oceanside offers a citywide service nicknamed "g'Oside" with $3-per-passenger fares ($6 max).
Under the new Manhattan Beach proposal, Circuit is responsible for hiring, training and background checks for its drivers, known as "ambassadors." Drivers will be able to accept tips provided by riders through the app.
A draft "scope of work" for Circuit to provide transportation services specifically bans advertising for tobacco products, electronic cigarettes or firearms. For the prior Downtowner service, the city barred alcohol advertising – a point that the former operator noted had limited their potential revenue.
A mixed fleet of 3-5 "neighborhood electric vehicles" (NEVs or "golf carts"), electric sedans and an accessible van would be deployed under various plans that city staff will present to the city council on Tuesday.
Manhattan Beach residents could download an app and use it to call for a car to move from any part of the city to another, with fares of $2.50-$5.00 per ride. The service proposed for the city would be operated by Circuit, which boasts service in more than 40 areas currently, concentrated in California, Florida, Texas and the northeast.
A 6-month pilot program would cost between $367,000-$486,000, which would come from the city's Proposition A funds (transit-directed funds collected by LA County from a half-cent sales tax). The program costs would vary depending on the service days, hours and fares selected by city council for the pilot. The most expansive service hours contemplated by the city staff's presentation are 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily, with an option for more restricted service from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
The city would receive 70% of fare revenue and 50% of any advertising revenue, credited toward balances due under the fee agreement with Circuit. One cost that the city would bear is for charging of the electric vehicles used in the program, estimated from about $21,000 to over $29,000 across six months, depending on the service levels chosen for the program.
The pilot project is responsive to a city council request for options to explore "microtransit" in November 2025 as a part of a parking management strategy, reducing traffic and congestion principally in the downtown area and the North End business district. A major point of the pilot program is to collect data on usage and impacts, as well as to ensure quality of the service.
Popular 'Downtowner' Experiment Ended, Not Expanded
The new proposal invites comparisons to a 2017 experiment with a free downtown-area EV shuttle service known as the "Downtowner." That service proved to be popular, with more than 2,500 rides per month, and with notable concentrations of younger (minor) riders and seniors. But the service broke down when the city council looked at how to expand it citywide.
One of the 6 "Downtowner" NEVs from the 2017 pilot project, wrapped in images promoting the city. Advertisers later took over the wraps.
The Downtowner was only available to get around areas west of Pacific Avenue, reflecting the system's initial focus on making downtown Manhattan Beach more accessible while reducing parking and traffic headaches in the area. Pressure built to make the free shuttle available to people living in all parts of Manhattan Beach, but this service expansion would have necessitated a switch to regular electric cars (Chevy Bolts were proposed), instead of the "golf cart"-style NEVs, the city determined.
A proposal to go citywide would have cost $681,000, which failed to earn council support. Then-council member Steve Napolitano said at the time, "I’m having a hard time seeing the Downtowner as a long-term solution, since the business model is unworkable. I don’t see us throwing money at it.”The "business model" was entirely advertising-driven at the time. The company providing the Downtowner tried to make a shift to a model involving city funding as well, but did not adapt in time to continue in Manhattan Beach.
Circuit Operates in Several SoCal Cities
By contrast to the Downtowner service, Circuit is an established firm operating in dozens of cities and areas with a mix of city funding, grant funding, fare revenue and advertising revenue.
Long Beach and Santa Monica currently operate free shuttles through Circuit, concentrating in tourist-heavy areas, while Oceanside offers a citywide service nicknamed "g'Oside" with $3-per-passenger fares ($6 max).
Circuit's "g'Oside" shuttles operate throughout the city of Oceanside, CA.
Huntington Beach recently ended its Circuit shuttle program after five years on Dec. 31, 2025, citing the end of targeted grants and the city's unwillingness to underwrite a continuation of the service.
Under the new Manhattan Beach proposal, Circuit is responsible for hiring, training and background checks for its drivers, known as "ambassadors." Drivers will be able to accept tips provided by riders through the app.
A draft "scope of work" for Circuit to provide transportation services specifically bans advertising for tobacco products, electronic cigarettes or firearms. For the prior Downtowner service, the city barred alcohol advertising – a point that the former operator noted had limited their potential revenue.
