Google Recommits Funding To Mountain View Shuttle

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA — The Mountain View Community Shuttle continues its route, with extended funding for five years from Google, the city announced Wednesday.

In the first phase, the free, community shuttle service was fully funded and operated by the search engine giant based locally as part of an initiative to provide daytime transit options for Mountain View residents. Phase 2 will transition the operations from Google over the next year and allow the city to study the next steps for the program and how to secure a stable funding source upcoming years.

Launched in January 2015, the Mountain View Community Shuttle pilot program has provided more than 700,000 local rides as a proof the concept for a local shuttle system works to help people get around town and out of their cars. In 2018 alone, more than 200,000 rides on the service were taken, representing a 10 percent increase in ridership from the previous year. The pilot program, which was set to expire in 2019, will now be able to continue through 2024 at its current service level.

“This is great news for the continuation of the pilot program and service, which many local residents have come to rely on in their daily routines,” City Manager Dan Rich said. "With this extension, Google will have committed more than $20 million from the program’s launch in 2015 through 2024.”

In 2016, the schedule was simplified to connect to each of the 50 stops every 30 minutes from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on weekdays and every 60 minutes on weekends and holidays. In 2017 and 2018, a real-time tracking and mobile app component was added for riders to see where the shuttles are located at any given time. During Phase 2 of the pilot program, city staff will study how the shuttle fits into the current mobility system and areas ways it may be improved.

The Mountain View Community Shuttle was designed to connect residential neighborhoods to shopping destinations, downtown Mountain View, entertainment attractions, city facilities, medical complexes and recreation areas. There are six fully electric shuttles running seven days a week, equipped with seating for 16 passengers, a wheelchair lift, space for two wheelchairs, WiFi connectivity and bicycle racks on the outside of the vehicle.

A prospective rider may visit MVCommunityShuttle.com.