Emery-Go-Round
The Emery-Go-Round is a free local
circulator system that annually shuttles 1.3 million commuters
and residents between Emeryville and the Bay Area Rapid Transit
(BART) MacArthur Station. The shuttle service represents the
culmination of a partnership formed between the City of
Emeryville and a constituency of local corporations that began in
1996. The shuttle service provides an example of the efficacy of
coordinated private sector investment in providing reliable,
nonautomotive commute options. It is funded by a Property-Based
Business Improvement District (PBID), whereby business owners
have elected to pay a small assessment on commercial square
footage to support the shuttle’s operation. Although the project
was initially proposed and planned by city staff, the city’s role
in funding and operation was phased out in the first 3 years of
operation, and the shuttle has operated successfully for 15 years
with very little assistance from the local redevelopment agency.