Getting Around Palm Beach County Without a Car: Palm Tran, Tri-Rail, Brightline and Downtown Shuttles

Palm Beach public transportation is more useful than many newcomers expect, as long as you live in the right place. The county has a bus system, two passenger rail lines and several downtown shuttle services. None of them reaches everywhere, and most of the county was built around the car. Still, retirees, students and car-light movers can make it work in a handful of walkable downtowns. This guide covers what each option offers, what it costs and which neighborhoods make life with one car, or none, realistic.

Key takeaways

• A Palm Tran bus ride costs $2, and a 31-day pass is $70. Seniors 65 and older, students 21 and under, Medicare recipients and some others pay $1 a ride.
• Tri-Rail fares run by zone, from $2.50 for one zone to $8.75 for six. On weekends and holidays, a day of travel costs $5.
• Brightline stops in downtown West Palm Beach and downtown Boca Raton, with trains south to Miami and north to Orlando's airport.
• West Palm Beach launched West Palm Move in September 2026. Fixed-route rides cost $1 and on-demand rides cost $2.
• Boca Raton and Delray Beach both offer free on-demand rides in their downtowns.

An overview of Palm Beach public transportation

Think of the system in three layers. First, Palm Tran buses cover the county's main roads. Second, two rail lines run north and south along the coast: Tri-Rail, a commuter train, and Brightline, a faster intercity train. Third, several cities run small shuttles that move people around their downtowns.

The layers work best together. For example, you might take a downtown shuttle to the train station, ride Tri-Rail south, then catch a Palm Tran bus to your final stop. However, connections take planning, and service thins out at night and in the western suburbs. So where you live matters more than any single route.

Palm Tran: Palm Beach public transportation by bus

Palm Tran is Palm Beach County's bus service. Its routes run along major roads from the coast to the western communities. For most car-free residents, it is the backbone of daily travel.

Palm Tran fares

According to Palm Tran's fare page, a single full-fare trip costs $2. Passes save money if you ride often:

• 1-day pass: $5
• 3-day pass: $12
• 7-day pass: $20
• 31-day pass: $70

Reduced fares cut the single ride to $1. A reduced day pass costs $3.50, and a reduced monthly pass costs $55. To qualify, you must be 65 or older with a valid Florida ID or driver's license, a student 21 or younger with a school ID, a person with a qualifying disability, a Medicare cardholder, or a veteran with a service-connected VA card. Note that Medicaid cards do not qualify.

Palm Tran Connection

Palm Tran also runs Connection, a door-to-door service for riders who qualify. A single Connection ride costs $4. You book it through the Connection app or with the office. For retirees with mobility limits, this service can make a car-free life far more practical.

Tri-Rail: Palm Beach public transportation by train

Tri-Rail is the region's commuter train. It runs along the I-95 corridor between Palm Beach County and Miami-Dade. For Palm Beach trips, Tri-Rail lists stations at Mangonia Park, West Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach and Boca Raton, plus Deerfield Beach just south of the county line.

Tri-Rail fares

Tri-Rail charges by the number of zones you travel. Its March 2025 tariff policy lists these one-way fares:

• 1 zone: $2.50
• 2 zones: $3.75
• 3 zones: $5.00
• 4 zones: $6.25
• 5 zones: $7.50
• 6 zones: $8.75

Round trips cost double the one-way fare. Regular riders can buy a 12-trip ticket or a monthly pass, which the tariff lists at $110. On weekends and holidays, a flat $5 fare covers a day of travel. That makes Tri-Rail a cheap way to reach Fort Lauderdale or Miami for a day out.

Keep in mind that many Tri-Rail stations sit near I-95, west of the downtowns. So you often need a bus, shuttle or short ride to finish the trip. Check the current schedule before you plan around a train, since frequency varies by time of day.

Brightline: faster Palm Beach public transportation to Miami and Orlando

Brightline is a private intercity train with two stops in the county. The West Palm Beach station is downtown at 260 Quadrille Plaza Drive. The Boca Raton station is downtown at 101 NW 4th Street, near Mizner Park. From either one, trains run south to Fort Lauderdale, Aventura and Miami, and north to Orlando International Airport.

Brightline costs more than Tri-Rail, and fares change with demand. In return, it is faster and has fewer stops. It suits people who commute to Miami or Fort Lauderdale a few days a week, and travelers who want to skip the drive to Orlando. Our guide to Brightline commuter neighborhoods covers the areas within easy reach of each station.

Downtown shuttles in Palm Beach public transportation

Several cities run their own small transit services. These fill the gap between the train and your front door. They also change often, so confirm the details before you rely on them.

West Palm Beach: West Palm Move

West Palm Beach replaced its old RideWPB service, which ended on May 31, 2026. The new network, West Palm Move, launched in September 2026 with a city partner called Via. According to the city, the all-electric fixed route runs north and south between the Norton Museum of Art and Northwood Village. Buses are scheduled every 8 to 10 minutes. Fixed-route rides cost $1, and on-demand rides cost $2.

Fixed-route hours are 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. On-demand rides run daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Note that cash is not accepted, so you pay by card or through the app. For more on living here, see our West Palm Beach page.

Boca Raton: BocaConnect

Boca Raton's BocaConnect is an on-demand shuttle run by Circuit. You request a ride in the Circuit app. According to the city, rides inside the downtown zone are free. That zone covers the area south of Glades Road, east of I-95 and north of the Hillsboro Canal, west of roughly NE 5th Avenue. Rides in a wider paid zone cost $2 per rider, plus $1 per added rider, capped at $5 per trip. The city lists hours from early morning until late night, and until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Delray Beach: Freebee

Delray Beach offers Freebee, a free on-demand ride service in the downtown core. It uses small electric vehicles. According to the Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency, you can request a ride through the Freebee app, call the service or simply flag down a car. The service launched in 2019 as a partnership between the CRA and the city. For more on the area, see our Delray Beach page.

Where car-light living works with Palm Beach public transportation

Living without a car is easiest where homes, shops, transit and services sit close together. In this county, that mostly means the older coastal downtowns. Here are the places that come closest:

• Downtown West Palm Beach. It has the most options in one place: Brightline, Tri-Rail, Palm Tran and West Palm Move. Condos and apartments make up most of the housing.
• Downtown Boca Raton. The Brightline station, Mizner Park and the free BocaConnect zone are all close together. Housing near the core leans toward condos and townhomes.
• Downtown Delray Beach. Atlantic Avenue is walkable, and Freebee covers the downtown core. The Tri-Rail station is farther west, near I-95.
• Downtown Lake Worth Beach. The downtown is compact and close to the beach. A Tri-Rail station sits west of downtown.

Outside these areas, a car becomes much more important. Western communities have longer distances, fewer bus routes and little or no shuttle service. So if you plan to live car-free, focus your home search on the coastal downtowns. In Boca Raton and other cities, ask your agent to map the walk from each home to the nearest grocery store, pharmacy and bus stop.

Tips for retirees, students and car-light movers

A few habits make Palm Beach County transit easier to live with:

1. Test your routine before you buy. Ride the bus or train at the times you would actually travel.
2. Check reduced fares. Seniors, students and Medicare recipients can cut Palm Tran costs in half.
3. Plan for summer heat and rain. A shaded bus stop and a short walk matter more here than in many places.
4. Keep a backup. Rideshare apps fill gaps late at night or on Sundays.
5. Watch for changes. City shuttles and pilot programs come and go, so check each service's site before you count on it.

Finally, compare the cost. Insurance, gas, parking and repairs add up. For many retirees, dropping a second car, or the only car, can free up real money each month. If you are coming from a city with a bigger system, our guide to Fort Lauderdale public transportation shows how the next county south compares.

Frequently asked questions

Can you live in Palm Beach County without a car?

Yes, in a few places. Downtown West Palm Beach, downtown Boca Raton and downtown Delray Beach offer the best mix of transit, shops and services. In the western suburbs, it is much harder.

How much does Palm Tran cost?

A single ride costs $2, and a 31-day pass costs $70. Seniors 65 and older, students 21 and under, Medicare recipients and some others pay $1 per ride.

What is the difference between Tri-Rail and Brightline?

Tri-Rail is a public commuter train with more stops and zone-based fares starting at $2.50. Brightline is a private intercity train with fewer stops, higher fares and service to Orlando's airport.

Is any Palm Beach public transportation free?

Boca Raton's BocaConnect is free inside its downtown zone, and Delray Beach's Freebee is free downtown. West Palm Beach's new West Palm Move service charges $1 for fixed-route rides and $2 for on-demand rides.

Sources

• Palm Tran, fares
• Tri-Rail, Palm Beach County stations
• SFRTA, Tri-Rail tariff policy (March 2025)
• Brightline, Orlando to Miami service and station list (2023)
• City of West Palm Beach, West Palm Move launch
• West Palm Beach DDA, RideWPB transition
• City of Boca Raton, BocaConnect
• Delray Beach CRA, Freebee
• Brightline, Boca Raton station

Selling a car-dependent home to move somewhere walkable? Start with a free home value report from Pure Equity. Moving to the area instead? Request a free relocation consultation, and we will map transit, shops and services around every home you consider. Talk with our team.