A shuttle service that offers free rides in parts of South Florida just made people’s commutes easier in northern Fort Lauderdale.

The on-demand service Freebee has added rides from Tri-Rail’s Cypress Creek station, at 5910 NW 9th Ave., to nearby hotels, hospitals, school and stores.

Transportation officials call it the “best of both worlds,” blending the ease and convenience of Uber or Lyft and the low cost — free in this case — of public transportation. The program has been funded by a grant from the Florida Department of Transportation and, if officials determine it’s successful, will consider expanding service to other stops.

Lesly Ponce, of Miami, takes Tri-Rail to work at her insurance office in Fort Lauderdale on weekdays. To get from the station to her office, she would Uber, but now says she plans on using Freebee. She described the experience as “amazing.”

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Ponce was one of the first riders to use Freebee when it debuted Tuesday. Now it’ll help cut down on her cost going to and from work. “It was very fast. I like it a lot,” she said. “Super clean, friendly driver. I liked it a lot.”

According to the “Ride Freebee” app, the service will take people from the Tri-Rail station to Holy Cross Hospital, Broward Health Imperial Point, Holy Cross Hospital, Pine Crest School, North Ridge Shopping Center, as well as a Westin hotel, Hampton Inn and Extended Stay America.

One of the biggest issues with train transportation is going between home, the train stations and work, school or another destination, according to Steven Abrams, the executive director of the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, which runs Tri-Rail.

Lashondra Thompson, a driver for Freebee, gets ready to board an electric passenger van at the Tri-Rail Cypress Creek Station on Tuesday June 28, 2022 in Fort Lauderdale. The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) with matching funds provided by the Florida Department of Transportation has launched a new federally funded pilot project for free on-demand microtransit service to get to or from the Cypress Creek Station. (Susan Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Traditionally, this gap would be filled by taxis, Ubers or other rideshare services and buses, but these typically cost money for commuters. “Always the biggest challenge for transit use is the so-called, ‘first and last mile,’” Abrams said.

The bus service was suspended during the pandemic as the number of users declined and transportation officials have sought free or cheap alternatives.

Freebee “combines the best of both worlds. It’s a handicap-accessible van that will go within a distance of our Cypress Creek station on demand,” Abrams said.

Users download the “Ride Freebee” mobile app and select their destination.

Jared Jacobs of Freebee shows a new wheelchair accessible electric passenger van to Jessica Vargas of Tri-Rail and Lisa Maack of FDOT at Tri-Rail's Cypress Creek Station on Tuesday June 28, 2022 in Fort Lauderdale. The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority -- with matching funds provided by the Florida Department of Transportation -- has launched a new federally funded pilot project for free service to get to or from the Cypress Creek Station. (Susan Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

According to the app, the service also serves Sunrise, Delray Beach and many communities across Miami-Dade County.

If the program near the Cypress Creek Tri-Rail station is successful, Abrams said they’ll expand the service near other stations.

Austen Erblat can be reached at aerblat@sunsentinel.com, 954-599-8709 or on Twitter @AustenErblat.