The West Hollywood City Council on Monday approved a pilot project for the Sunset Strip Entertainment Shuttle, a free service that will transport people to destinations along Sunset Boulevard.

The service is scheduled for a pilot project from March to August next year. City staff members are in the process of securing a vendor, branding the shuttle and developing plans. It is envisioned to be similar to the PickUp, a shuttle that travels along Santa Monica Boulevard between La Brea Avenue and Robertson Boulevard on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, as well as some holidays. The Sunset Strip Entertainment Shuttle will use a similar trolley-style vehicle as the PickUp and will travel along Sunset Boulevard between Fairfax Avenue and Doheny Drive from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Derek Monteiro, who created a playlist for the PickUp, posed in front of the shuttle at a past launch event. West Hollywood is working on creating a similar shuttle along the Sunset Strip that will launch next March. (photo by Aaron Blevins)

The shuttle will follow a continuous loop with service every 15 minutes, said Francisco Gomez, transportation program administrator for West Hollywood. It will also travel south on Doheny Drive to Melrose Avenue and have stops on Melrose Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard via San Vicente Boulevard.

Gomez said the Sunset Strip Entertainment Shuttle will stop at nightclubs and concert venues such as Whisky a Go Go, The Roxy, the Rainbow Bar and Grill and The Viper Room, as well as hotels such as The Andaz, The Standard and Sunset Tower, and restaurants like Church Key, Saddle Ranch, Pink Taco, Roku Sunset, Katana, Chin Chin and Mel’s Drive-In. Similar to the PickUp, it will be geared toward people enjoying the area’s night life. The PickUp has a music playlist by DJ Derek Monteiro and perks for riders from local businesses. Gomez said the details on the Sunset Strip Entertainment Shuttle are still being worked out, but the idea is to offer a similar experience.

“The PickUp is extremely popular,” Gomez said. “People who are riding are going to the same places. The atmosphere on board is definitely different than what you would find on a Metro bus.”

Gomez added that the PickUp, launched in August 2013 and extended from Fairfax to La Brea avenues two years ago, has approximately 1,600 boardings every weekend. West Hollywood is hoping the Sunset Strip Entertainment Shuttle will experience similar popularity.

The city is using $285,000 in Proposition A transportation funds for the pilot project. The West Hollywood City Council will review the program to determine if it should be continued.