Transitional transit options in Pacific Beach starting in July

Metered parking district and shuttle service to begin

Two new programs – a pilot metered parking district on Garnet Avenue and an all-electric shuttle connecting to Balboa Transit Station – are coming to Pacific Beach in July.

Beachgoers are getting ready to catch “The Beach Bug,” PB’s new EV shuttle traveling up to 25 mph, which riders will be able to hail from a four-car fleet via an app or phone call. The first day of operation is still up in the air, though it’s expected to debut in mid-July.

Also beginning sometime this month will be a metered, year-long parking pilot placing 321 high-tech metered, two-hour-or-less-time-limited parking spaces on Garnet Avenue. The pilot plan, approved unanimously by the City Council in July 2021, will be instituted within the business district along the densest part of Garnet Avenue and surrounding streets. Parking meters are planned for installation in two-hour spaces.

There is a direct tie-in between PB’s shuttle and the pilot parking meter zone on Garnet Avenue. “None of the details have changed,” said Sunny Lee, executive director of Discover PB, the beach community’s business improvement district. “It is a one-year pilot that will be renewed next year. The hope is that it will prove to be successful.”

Responding to concerns that the new metered parking district will adversely impact residents’ parking, Lee said, “Neighbors’ parking will not be displaced. Meters will not be placed in residential zones. Parking should operate as normal as the meters are going into spaces that are already timed and usage shouldn’t look any different other than now there is a minor charge for those spaces.”

The City is partnering with the San Diego Association of Governments to launch an on-demand PB shuttle service. This low-speed and emissions-free option will expand mobility choices in the community, support connections to transit, and reduce parking demand. The Beach Bug pilot also advances the City’s Climate Action Plan and implements SANDAG’s Flexible Fleets Implementation Strategic Plan.

In support of the 2021 Regional Plan, SANDAG initiated a regional procurement for on-demand mobility services or “Flexible Fleets,” including Neighborhood Electric Vehicle shuttles, micro-transit, carshare, microbility, and ride-hail. This regional procurement enables public agencies to cooperatively procure Flexible Fleet services with regionally-negotiated terms including competitive rates, level of service standards, and data sharing requirements. The City is utilizing this regional contracting approach to enter into a cooperative agreement with SANDAG’s selected NEV vendor, Circuit Transit LLC. (Circuit), for this PB pilot project.

When The Beach Bug launches, it will begin with a three-month free pilot program. After that, riders will pay $2.50 for all-day access.

Planning a beach trip? Once the PB shuttle begins making its rounds, its hours will be:

Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
Thursdays and Fridays: 7 a.m.-10 p.m.
Saturdays: 9 a.m.-10 p.m.
Sundays: 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

Lee said the PB electric shuttle will facilitate people getting from the Balboa Avenue Trolley stop to PB’s business district and beaches. Here is a link to the phone app that people can use to pay for the meters, https://www.sandiego.gov/blog/pay-using-your-phone-any-meter-displaying-blue-park-smarter-sticker-download-park-smarter-app.

“It (PB shuttle link) makes it very easy (to use) and Discover PB will be sharing about both of these projects on our social media as well,” said Lee adding, “If all the tools are utilized, this can be a very smooth transition.”

“Ultimately this is a win for PB,” continued Lee. “Most people living in and visiting San Diego are used to using parking meters and residents and visitors alike will be able to take advantage of the amenities and improvements of mobility in our community. I know change is hard, but this is one of the first steps in improving the infrastructure of mobility in PB, with 40,000 residents and 8 million visitors each year, we need to think about how we can support and accommodate mobility in PB.”

On-street meters in the City are normally enforced from 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Mondays-Saturdays. Meter parking is $0.25 per 12-15 minutes. Parking is free outside these hours. Vehicles cannot park on the street for more than 72 hours. Off-street parking rates vary rather considerably. One hour of parking can cost between $3-$10, while 24-hour parking can cost from $10 to $30.

The inception of the Garnet Avenue Parking Pilot is a years-long quest by some merchants, local residents, and community planners in PB who contend paid parking is a management solution and tool that will help solve traffic problems. Supporters claim paid parking will provide a continuing revenue stream for Pacific Beach that stays in the community and can be used to fund community-improvement projects.

However, concerns remain among some community residents who fear the paid-parking pilot could displace parking for residents, negatively impact their quality of life, and be self-sustaining from here on in.