Yvette Drucker and the Future of Movement in Boca Raton
At Circuit, we see firsthand how local leadership shapes the way communities access basic needs, downtowns, and transit networks. Microtransit services are championed by people willing to rethink how cities function and prioritize access, safety, and everyday practicality.
In this blog series, we highlight Microtransit Champions, leaders in their communities driving change and ensuring transit is accessible and equitable for everyone.
Boca Raton launched the BocaConnect shuttle in June 2024 with the support of Council Member Yvette Drucker.
Over the past few years, Yvette has helped turn mobility into a strategic priority for the city, advancing policies, securing funding, and championing solutions like BocaConnect to make transportation more accessible, flexible, and aligned with how people actually move.
From Policy to Real-World Impact: Building a More Connected Boca Raton
Yvette’s focus on people, combined with her willingness to learn, test, and lead, is what has made mobility such a priority in Boca. She didn’t come into office with a background in transportation. She built her career in human resources and spent over a decade focused on children, families, and education in her community. 
Those experiences shape how she approaches mobility as something that needs to be accessible, affordable, and safe for everyone.
Since becoming a Council Member, she’s traveled to cities across the U.S. and internationally, spending time on the ground with engineers and planners to understand what works, what doesn’t, and how those lessons can be applied in Boca. Before BocaConnect launched, Yvette focused on something most cities skip, building the foundation.
Through her work, Boca adopted Vision Zero, secured major safety funding, and put the groundwork in place to support new mobility solutions. BocaConnect was part of a broader shift toward safer, more connected movement across the city. As Yvette put it, “First comes the policy, then comes the people, and then comes the planning for implementation.”
That approach is what allowed BocaConnect to move from idea to execution, and from pilot to something residents now rely on every day.
What Transit Means for Boca
Yvette's mindset reframes the role of transit entirely. It’s not theoretical or aspirational, it’s practical. 
Over the past several years, Boca Raton has evolved into a city that prioritizes how people move, not just where they go. With access to both Brightline and Tri-Rail, the city has strong regional connections. The challenge is how to scale and help people continue to move around the city once they arrive.
That’s where BocaConnect, powered by Circuit, has become essential. Yvette shared that after bringing the service to Boca it quickly became part of daily life, helping residents and visitors move between key areas like downtown, transit hubs, and the beach without needing a car.
From college students to seniors, different groups adopted the service for different reasons, but with a shared outcome: easier, more flexible movement throughout the city.
Today, the service has supported over 40,000 rides, but what is really impressive is how people are using it. Yvette sees the impact everyday.
“When I’m on BocaConnect, I see the elderly using it all the time. I hear from residents saying their parents love it because they don’t drive anymore and they don’t want to deal with parking. Then you see younger people using it too. Everyone is using it for different reasons, but they’re all using it to get around more easily.”
It’s become a core part of how the city functions, especially during large events, in downtown areas, and for residents who need a reliable alternative to driving.
Yvette’s passion for mobility goes beyond innovation, it’s rooted in impact.
“I know that some of the things we’ve done over the last five years have saved lives. I know that. From safer intersections to better lighting to giving people other ways to move around… that’s what drives me. That’s really the purpose.” 
That perspective is the driver behind everything she’s done. Not just launching a service, but making sure it improves how people experience the city every day.
Planning for What’s Next
Boca Raton’s approach to mobility doesn’t stop here. The city is continuing to invest in what comes next, from autonomous vehicle pilots to broader multimodal infrastructure.
Mobility is a cornerstone for how Boca Raton and other cities grow. Transit-oriented development, walkable neighborhoods, and connected districts all depend on having reliable ways for people to move without relying solely on personal vehicles.
Yvette has been a key driver behind that shift, championing solutions that support both today’s needs and future growth. Her advice to other cities is simple: try new things, learn from others, and focus on what works for your community.
Boca Raton’s successes show what’s possible when cities take a people-first approach to mobility. Microtransit isn’t a standalone solution. It’s part of a broader system that connects transit, supports local economies, and improves safety across the board, and leaders like Yvette Drucker are what make that possible.
As she put it: “The best is yet to come.”
Learn More About Circuit and Our Community Impact
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