The Garde Arts Center will offer a "preview run" of a new free community transportation service during times of Garde events.

The Garde Arts Shuttle will begin Thursday and Friday, when Stomp will perform at the New London theater. The shuttle will run from 5 to 11 p.m.

The shuttle will continue on Jan. 26 and Feb. 2, 16, 23 and 24.

The vehicle is a 24-passenger bus supplied by DATTCO. It will provide continuous pick-up and drop-off in a downtown loop, which includes stops at the Garde, the Eugene O'Neill Drive municipal lots, the Pearl Street and Golden Street intersection of Bank Street, the Water Street municipal parking garage, and City Hall. The route will repeat every 15 minutes. There will be direct express service to the municipal parking lots immediately after each show.

The route will be reviewed and modified during the initial test period.

Based on community response and fundraising support, the Garde hopes to continue the shuttle for the rest of its season, and perhaps help expand the number of routes and vehicles.

Days of operation and shuttle times wll be posted at www.gardearts.org and at the Garde Box Office at 325 State St.