Photo: Courtesy of METGo!
Recognizing the challenges of providing effective public transportation in rural areas, in 2021 two Virginia, US, transit agencies launched on-demand microtransit services designed to expand their offerings and boost riders’ mobility. Where traditional public transportation runs fixed routes on a certain schedule, microtransit offers riders on-demand trips that can be scheduled in advance or booked instantly via a mobile app or phone call. Although such service carries fewer passengers than the fixed routes that run in Virginia’s cities and towns, the efficiency gains for less densely populated areas can be dramatic. “Folks in our rural communities who don’t own a car or don’t drive can be really cut off from available opportunities. We have seen microtransit really gain traction over the past couple of years to be utilized to help close transit gaps,” said Jenn DeBruhl, director of Department of Rail and Public Transportation.
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