IndyGo is launching IndyGo Connect, a new on-demand transit service pilot project that will expand access to equitable, convenient mobility in Southeast Indianapolis. For only $1.75 per trip or less, riders can book a shared ride at a moment’s notice through a smart phone app or by calling a phone number — offering the flexibility of a private car with the affordability and sustainability of public transit.

IndyGo Connect, which launches May 11, uses software to make it more convenient for residents, workers, and visitors in the city’s southeast region to connect with the city’s existing public transit system and travel directly to essential and leisure destinations. Popular points of interest within the service zone include the University of Indianapolis, Fountain Square Red Line stations, the Community Justice Center, grocery stores, healthcare facilities, shopping areas, and more.

The program is powered by Via, which uses advanced algorithms to create quick and efficient trips by matching multiple passengers heading in the same direction together into a single vehicle in real time, directing riders to a nearby “virtual bus stop” for pick up and drop off. The service includes wheelchair-accessible vehicles for those who request them.

“IndyGo is excited to add this service to its growing list of initiatives geared toward helping Indianapolis’ most vulnerable population,” said IndyGo President and CEO Inez Evans. “With the launch of this new, microtransit program, IndyGo continues to fill the existing transportation gaps and show how it prioritizes the needs of all Indianapolis residents.”