Worcester Regional Transit lands grant for microtransit service
The project with Via will be the first public-private transit partnership in the Central Massachusetts region that will introduce on-demand transportation.
Via is not only a technology provider, but has the operational know-how to create a scalable, customizable technology to offer to the public sector.
Via
1 min to read
Via is not only a technology provider, but has the operational know-how to create a scalable, customizable technology to offer to the public sector.
Via
The Massachusetts-based Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA) received $459,430 in Discretionary Funding from MassDOT to pilot an on-demand microtransit service with Via in Westborough.
The project will be the first public-private transit partnership in the Central Massachusetts region that will introduce on-demand microtransit. The project will replace the community shuttle the WRTA currently operates in Town of Westborough, and it will provide a “Transportation-as-a-Service” (TaaS) model to the WRTA using Via, a private provider.
Ad Loading...
Via’s technology directs passengers to a nearby virtual bus stop within a short walking distance for pick up and drop off, allowing for quick and efficient shared trips without lengthy detours, or inconvenient fixed routes and schedules. The technology enables on-demand, shared rides through routing determined by Via’s algorithm. Via is not only a technology provider, but has the operational know-how to create a scalable, customizable technology to offer to the public sector.
The company has already partnered with some of the world’s largest public transit agencies to solve pressing transportation needs, including the Los Angeles Metro, Transport for London, Sydney’s Transport for New South Wales, and Berlin’s Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe.
The expanded service builds on Pace’s growing On Demand network and is intended to improve access to destinations such as medical appointments, schools, shopping, employment centers and connections to the regional transit system.
An important part of the authority’s NextGen Bus Network, MARTA Reach will bring transit service directly to the rider’s location and offer a seamless link to the broader rail and bus system.
In this edition, we cover recent appointments and announcements at HDR, NCTD, STV, and more, showcasing the individuals helping to shape the future of transportation.
The service is a flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gaps and connect riders to employment for just $5 per day.
In a recent episode of METROspectives, LYT CEO Timothy Menard discusses how artificial intelligence, cloud connectivity, and real-time data are transforming traffic management, boosting bus reliability, and enabling system-wide transit optimization across cities.
The analysis finds that a $4.6 trillion investment across all levels of government over 20 years ($230 billion per year) would be required to build, operate, and maintain a transit network that approaches the level of service within a cohort of 17 global cities with world-class transit systems.
