GALVESTON — There may not be free lunches, but sometimes there are free rides.
Beginning Monday and until Jan. 3, island residents and visitors can ride the city’s electric buses for free.
Galveston Island Transit’s so-called e-buses will follow the city’s existing trolley lines along two routes taking passengers to such destinations including the University of Texas Medical Branch, the historic downtown Strand area and Seawall Boulevard.
In 2005, the city, to reduce emissions and pollution, purchased three hybrids for $284,000 each, or a total of $852,000.
But along came Hurricane Ike in September 2008, wiping out about 30 percent of the city’s transportation fleet, including four trolleys and the three e-buses.
The city’s insurers agreed to pay only $161,000 to repair the buses. Downey, Calif.-based Ebus wanted $250,000 each to repair the vehicles.
When city officials explained their plight to Ebus President Andy Eklov, whose company pioneered the 22-foot electric bus and trolley platform available in all-electric, hybrid and fuel cell models, the company agreed to help.
Ebus paid to transport the flood-damaged buses to California and refurbish them for $161,000 each, the amount of the insurance payout.
Buses will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week. Monday through Saturday passengers can expect buses servicing the seawall route to loop every 30 minutes and buses servicing the medical branch campus to run every 20 minutes, city officials said. On Sundays, a combined route will loop every 40 minutes, officials say.
Beginning Jan. 4, the cost to ride the e-buses is $1.50 for adults and 75 cents for children and senior citizens.
