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Ferry shuttle to resume routes through summer
The city of Port Aransas and the Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) are offering commuters and visitors another chance to get a ride to work or shop this summer.
The ferry shuttle - a bus that starts and ends at the Port Aransas ferry ramps and runs through the city - will start again May 22 and run through Sept. 14, said city Executive Assistant Pat Garrett.
The RTA experimented with the ferry shuttles last year and found some interest, though interest declined as the experiment neared a close. Riders also used the buses during Spring Break this year, RTA figures show.
This time, the bus will operate Thursday through Sunday only. Morning buses will run from 7 a.m. until 10 a.m.; afternoon buses start at 2 p.m. and run until 5 p.m.
Bus drivers reported those were the times of highest use, Garrett said.
The shuttles are designed to let commuters park in the Texas Department of Transportation park and walk lots on Harbor Island, ride the ferries across as pedestrians, and then take the shuttles to work. This way ferry waiting lines are avoided, the RTA pointed out.
Most of the commuters are expected to come from Aransas Pass and Ingleside, Garrett said; however, during the experiment last year, the RTA found that some people also used the park and walk lots and then the shuttles to visit Port Aransas shops and restaurants.
The route will remain the same as last year: From the ferry landing along Cotter Avenue to Alister Street, south on Alister Street to Beach Street, then along Station Street to Lantana Drive, out Lantana Drive to the beach and back to Station.
The route then returns via Beach Street to Alister Street and runs to Avenue G, where it turns east to 11th Street and goes south to Beach Access Road 1A.
On Beach Access Road 1A, the shuttles will turn west to State Hwy. 361, then return on State Hwy. 361 to Cut-off Road and take Cut-off Road back to the ferry landing.
A one-way ride on the shuttle will cost 25 cents, the RTA said.
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