116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Hy-Vee funding rides from First Avenue Hy-Vee to Oakland Road store starting June 24
Horizons will provide free 3-day-a-week shuttle service through August
CEDAR RAPIDS — After the First Avenue NE Hy-Vee closes later this month, the grocer will fund free rides from there to the Oakland Road NE store starting June 24.
Beginning the day after the 1556 First Ave. NE store closes, nonprofit Horizons said on Facebook it will provide fare-free rides three days a week from there to the Hy-Vee at 3235 Oakland Rd. NE. The shuttle will operate through August.
Riders don’t need to call to book a ride and may simply “hop on” at the First Avenue NE Hy-Vee, according to the Facebook post. Horizons’ Neighborhood Transportation Service program, which allows people to book low-fare rides, will provide the free transportation.
The bus will run on a continuous loop, waiting for about 10 minutes at each of the Hy-Vee locations. It will run on the following schedule:
- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday
- 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday
- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday
This was among the steps Hy-Vee announced last month to serve customers affected by the closure of the First Avenue NE store June 23, which will leave a “food desert” with no grocery store in the surrounding area serving the Wellington Heights and Mound View neighborhoods.
The free shuttle will allow customers to get groceries and medications at the Oakland Road Hy-Vee. Hy-Vee will then “reevaluate their use by the community” to assess the need for the shuttle service.
Additionally, Hy-Vee announced it will deliver groceries for free to all residents within a 1-mile radius of the store for one year when they sign up for the service. Customers may sign up beginning Monday. Hy-Vee will require minimum orders of $24.95.
Hy-Vee also will continue to offer free pharmacy delivery, which it has done for years.
Comments: (319) 398-8494; marissa.payne@thegazette.com
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