Via announces on-demand public transit in Austin

Via is expanding its footprint in Texas, this time bringing a brand new on-demand public transit system to Manor, and later this year, Austin.

Staff Writer・Editorial

Read Staff's Posts

June 26, 2019

Via announces on-demand public transit in Austin

1 min to read

The expansion to build a new on-demand service in Austin and Manor points to a growing trend in Texas to develop improved public transit.

Via announced its new on-demand shared transit network, a new microtransit deployment in partnership with Austin, Texas' Capital Metro.

Pickup brings door-to-door transportation to the Manor area, and four other Austin neighborhoods later this year.

The service is set to replace the MetroBus Route 40 servicing Cap Metro’s Manor Park & Ride, Walmart, City Hall, and several additional neighborhoods both in and out of the city limits.

With the Pickup app, riders will be able to hail a shuttle directly from their smartphone. The program enables riders to be picked up at a virtual bus stop and allows multiple passengers to travel seamlessly. It also allows for quick and efficient shared trips without lengthy detours, or fixed routes and schedules.

With the Pickup app riders will be able to hail a shared on-demand shuttle directly from their smartphone.

The new on-demand service comes after Via and Capital Metro piloted the Pickup service in 2017 and 2018 in Northeast Austin, including the Mueller and Windsor Park neighborhoods, testing the on-demand service’s functionality in the Austin metro area.

Currently, Pickup is available weekdays between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. The app is available for download on both the IOS and Android platforms. A single ride costs $1.25 and day, weekly, and monthly passes are available for the service.

Topics:Capital Metro City of Austin microtransit mobility on-demand transportation public transportation Bus Management New Mobility

More New Mobility

Breaking Accessibility Barriers with the Low Floor Frontrunner Minibus

Accessible transit isn’t a feature—it’s a responsibility. This whitepaper explores how the Low-Floor Frontrunner is redefining mobility with a breakthrough design that removes barriers, empowers riders, and delivers measurable operational advantages for agencies. Discover why this next generation minibus is setting a new standard for inclusive transportation.