Via announced that since it took over operations of Canada’s Brant Transit microtransit program in January ridership has doubled and trip times have been dramatically reduced.

While the new and improved service has only been live for a month and a half, Brant Transit has significantly increased the number of available rides as compared to previous years — an accomplishment earned through Via’s expertise in driver management and intelligent trip-routing algorithms, according to the company.

The Brant Transit Microtransit Service

The service, which is in partnership with the County of Brant, Ontario, allows anyone in the county to book a ride by app or by calling a dedicated phone number. Via’s flexible algorithms match riders headed in the same direction into one vehicle, creating quick and efficient shared trips that allow citizens to travel anywhere within the county, or between the County of Brant and the City of Brantford.

The new Via-powered Brant Transit app features the following upgrades, all of which are designed to improve the rider and driver experience:

• Ability to plan ahead: Riders gain the ability to pre-book rides up to 14 days in advance.

• Real-time ride tracking: See where your driver is, and where you are on your route.

• Regular reminders: Riders receive reminder notifications the day before, 30 minutes before, and five minutes before the arrival of a scheduled trip.

• Improved rider-driver communication: Riders can call their driver from the app if they cannot find them — phone numbers will remain secure for both sides. A new “notes” feature allows riders to share additional ride details when booking.

Via’s Reach

The County of Brant joins more than 650 communities around the world who are using Via’s platform and operations to power their transportation services, including in the Niagara Region, York Region Transit, and Durham Region Transit, all some of Canada’s largest on-demand public transit programs.