The City of Savannah is offering downtown workers a flexible form of transportation through the use of the iPhone and Android app “Downtowner” which offers on demand rides within the downtown area.

The need for such a service for late-night downtown workers was identified by City Council during discussions of the Parking Matters study, which recommended extending meter enforcement into the evening, in addition to elimination of time limits and other changes intended to make parking more efficient downtown. The City also offers very low monthly rates in downtown garages for those who work at night -- $35 per month to park from 3 p.m. to 6 a.m. seven days per week in any City-owned garage.

The six-month trial program begins May 10 and will be available to any person between the hours of 5 p.m. and 5 a.m. The service area requires rides must begin and end within the borders of MLK Boulevard, Broad Street., Park Avenue and the Savannah River.

City staff determined on demand transportation would be more cost-effective in comparison to extending bus shuttle hours past midnight. The downtown transportation program is funded by the Parking & Mobility Fund.

The pilot program will be evaluated after the six-month trial period to determine whether the service successfully addresses transportation disadvantages for late night downtown workers.