MENU
SEARCHBoston MBTA’s The Ride pioneered the use of TNCs in paratransit back in 2016. Since then, the agency has been a reference nationwide on how to efficiently use non-dedicated service providers.
In 2023, the MBTA selected AlphaRoute’s innovative tool, NDSP Optimization, to daily optimize trips across multiple transportation options.
Photo: MBTA
Last month, Boston MBTA’s The Ride paratransit service hit one million optimized trips in 2024, thanks in part to a partnership with AlphaRoute.
Boston MBTA’s The Ride pioneered the use of TNCs in paratransit back in 2016. Since then, the agency has been a reference nationwide on how to efficiently use non-dedicated service providers (NDSP).
As NDSP options and NDSP ridership grew for paratransit riders, the MBTA continued to search for tools that could help its scheduling and dispatch teams optimize paratransit service across different transportation options.
In 2023, the MBTA selected AlphaRoute’s innovative tool, NDSP Optimization, to daily optimize trips across multiple transportation options.
NDSP Optimization looks at all trips scheduled for tomorrow to define which trips shall be kept in the dedicated service and which eligible trips shall be outsourced to each NDSP provider. It also assigns eligible NDSP trips to the most cost effective NDSP provider available for that trip.
The company’s web-based optimization tool augments the performance of legacy paratransit scheduling systems to improve service, maximize efficiency, and generate substantial cost savings. It is also fully customizable with local operational parameters and contractual requirements.
So far in 2024, AlphaRoute has optimized, on average, over 100,000 trips per month with extremely low errors and very high availability — over 99.9% of all trips are optimized.
The implementation of the NDSP Optimization tool saved hours of work per day for the scheduling team. Before utilizing the company’s tool, MBTA would have to manually look for the best trips to outsource.
Now, they can have the best trips available to them in a click of a button, optimizing more than 4,000 paratransit trips in just over a minute. The financial benefit of this tool for the MBTA is estimated to be several million dollars per year. The average net savings per trip outsourced using NDSP Optimization is around $22 dollars
Stay informed with these quick takes on the projects and companies driving progress across the transportation landscape.
Read More →
Transit agencies depend on safe, reliable vehicles to deliver consistent service. This eBook examines how next-generation fleet software helps agencies move from reactive processes to proactive operations through automated maintenance, real-time safety insights, and integrated data. Learn how fleets are improving uptime, safety outcomes, and operational efficiency.
Read More →
Stay informed with these quick takes on the projects and companies driving progress across the transportation landscape.
Read More →
As the transportation landscape continues to evolve in the wake of the pandemic, few manufacturers have faced, or embraced, change as decisively as Forest River Bus.
Read More →
The subway, Long Island Rail Road, and Metro-North Railroad all recorded record-highs for on-time performance in 2025.
Read More →
Transit Plus riders gain access to WisGo cards and mobile fare payment through the Umo app in 2026.
Read More →
Starting next week, HandyDART will also extend its hours to 2 a.m., improving service availability for customers and aligning more closely with SkyTrain operating hours.
Read More →
Biz Briefs covers the latest supplier news in the motorcoach and public transit industries.
Read More →
The JTA board also approved making Neighborhood Autonomous Vehicle Innovation service complimentary, effective December 15.
Read More →
Biz Briefs covers the latest supplier news in the motorcoach and public transit industries.
Read More →
