Council Extends Hours For Shuttle Cart Operation

OCEAN CITY - The E Cruzer shuttle carts have been spotted trafficking people to various locations in the downtown area this year and after a unanimous vote by the City Council Monday, the E Cruzers were allowed to work extended hours on the Fourth of July and will be permitted again during the White Marlin Open.

The E Cruzer provides a shuttle service by use of electric shuttle carts. The green transportation company picks passengers up from condos, hotels, or parking areas and takes them to their desired destination. The shuttle carts are confined to the downtown area and transport passengers east to west.

Russell Rankin, owner of E Cruzer, LLC, came before the Mayor and Council Monday to make a request for an extension of hours for special events. The special events included this week's Fourth of July holiday and next month's White Marlin Open.

The E Cruzers currently run until 7 p.m., vacating the streets before nightfall. Rankin came before the council to request three events in which the carts would be allowed on the streets until 10:30 p.m.

For this week's Independence Day, Rankin requested that the electric shuttle carts run until 10:30 p.m. in the downtown area of 33^rd Street to the Inlet and at the north end of town from 120^th Street to the state line. Rankin hopes that the carts will help with crowd control and parking. Rankin explained to the council that the rides would be complimentary.

Rankin also requested that the E-Cruzers be allowed to run until 10:30 p.m. during the White Marlin Open. Rankin told the council that E Cruzers will be a sponsor for the White Marlin Open this year and that he hopes to get involved with transporting people.

'I'd also like to work with the municipal lots in the downtown area,' Rankin said.

Rankin told the council that he hopes to correlate his transportation with the municipal lots by picking people up from the lots and shuttling them to the weigh-ins each night. As usual, the carts would only travel from the Inlet to 33^rd Street.

Councilwoman Nancy Howard supported the request but added that verification from the Public Service Commission would be needed. Howard suggested approval from the council contingent upon receiving verification from the Public Service Commission.