Shuttle from ferry starts Monday

A shuttle bus designed to get workers from the Port Aransas ferry landing to job sites will begin Monday, July 23.

The shuttle, an idea of the Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), will be free for the first two weeks; after that, a fee of 25 cents a trip will be charged.

Shuttles are scheduled from 6-9 a.m. and 3-6 p.m.

Buses are expected to run about every 20 minutes, though that could be adjusted depending on how many riders there are, said Pat Garrett, Port Aransas executive assistant.

Morning schedules will be flexible and on-demand, but afternoon schedules will be fairly strict to ensure everybody gets a ride home, she said.

The shuttle route runs from the ferry landing along Cotter Avenue to The University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute, then back up Cotter Avenue to Alister Street. From Alister and Cotter it runs along Alister to Avenue G, where the route turns toward the beach. At 11th Street it turns again, running down 11th Street to Beach Access Road 1A.

Buses will go up Beach Access Road 1A to State Hwy. 361, and then back up Alister to Avenue G. There, they'll turn left and go along Cut-off Road back to the ferry landing.

RTA Director of Operations David Seiler told city officials earlier this year that the trial version of the shuttle would be seasonal, not year-round. This version is scheduled to operate through Wednesday, Oct. 31.

In a brochure, the RTA invited workers to walk from a Walk-N-Ride parking area north of the ferry ramps to the ferries and then take the shuttle to work. Bicycle racks are also available on shuttle buses for those who prefer to bike to the landing and bring their bicycle to work with them,