Brunswick city officials told the Glynn County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 6 that the Brunswick Breeze microtransit service, launched Sept. 16, has drawn heavy early use and that the city will ask the county to invest $150,000 this year to expand service hours and coverage.

City Manager Regina McDuffie said the city is running a promotional period through Nov. 16 offering free rides and has seen “tremendous demand for our system.” She told commissioners the service averaged about 182 rides a day during its first 20 days and recorded 3,632 rides in that period.

The matter matters to Glynn County because many riders are county residents and county commissioners said a county investment could extend hours and service into more rural districts. McDuffie and commissioners described the system as especially useful for seniors, students and health-care access and said expanded hours would require additional county funding and a renegotiated agreement with the private operator.

McDuffie gave operational and fare details: she said the promotional free rides run through Nov. 16, after which standard fares will be $3 or less (she also referenced Nov. 13 in one remark); airport trips will be $12; students, seniors and military will see a discounted fare of $2; children 12 and under ride free when accompanied and 13-year-olds may ride alone; additional riders are $1 each. She said the system’s posted service hours are Monday–Thursday 6 a.m.–9 p.m., Friday–Saturday 6 a.m.–10:30 p.m., and Sunday 8 a.m.–8 p.m.

On usage and performance, McDuffie said the first 20 days showed an average ride duration of about 15 minutes (roughly 5 miles), a 60% share-ride rate and a 4.8-star average review from about 684 reviewers. She said 66% of rides recorded an origin or destination outside the Brunswick city limits and that popular stops include Walmart, the hospital and local schools. McDuffie said customer service is available at a downtown center at 503 Mansfield and by phone, and that the contracted operator leases and maintains vehicles under the third‑party contract so direct vehicle maintenance costs would not fall to the county unless service hours were expanded.

Commissioners pressed for additional detail on who is using the service. A college representative, Dr. Evans, told the board students have used the service heavily and suggested designated pickup and drop‑off points on campus because drivers were repeatedly circling parking lots. An unnamed commissioner representing District 4 said “micro transit enhances the quality of life” for seniors and workers and urged county participation. A commissioner from a rural district noted the current routing does not serve that district and asked whether county investment would permit rural expansion; McDuffie said rural service could be added with additional dollars and through negotiations with the operator and rural transit partners.

McDuffie said the city hopes the county will “buy into” the system and that a county investment could warrant renegotiating the contract and creating a joint governance mechanism to set hours, fares and routes. She asked staffers to bring specific cost and usage data back to the board; commissioners agreed to convene a small working group of commissioners and staff to explore options.

Next steps: city staff will return with more detailed ridership, demographic and cost figures, and commissioners asked county staff to meet with city representatives to draft possible intergovernmental terms if the county considers funding. No formal county funding decision was made at the Oct. 6 meeting.