The City of Gastonia will launch its new on-demand ridesharing service starting July 1, 2024 through TransitTech provider Via. The City’s Transportation Department is seeking public input and views about ridesharing as a transportation preference as it moves from fixed-route service to on-demand service. The survey ends May 31, 2024.
“We are excited to offer this new, innovative service to our residents and visitors as we move from a fixed-route schedule to on-demand service that offers efficient, convenient, and personalized public transportation,” said Randi Gates, Director of Transportation for the City of Gastonia. “This survey will give more feedback to help us determine how to best design the service to fit the needs of riders.”
What You Should Know About the Survey
- The survey is being conducted by the City of Gastonia and TransitTech provider Via, the service vendor.
- Data collected from the survey will be used to help the City better understand how to design the service for riders and the public’s opinion about ridesharing overall.
- Responses to the survey are anonymous.
- The survey ends May 31, 2024.
- The survey is available at this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QW6G3Q9?city_id=737
Benefits of On-Demand Microtransit
- Scheduled rides for passengers
- Reduced wait times
- Smaller, more efficient vehicles
- Increased ridership
- Shorter travel times (depending on destinations and return trips)
- Greater accessibility for passengers
- Expanded service area
Gastonia Transit currently operates six fixed-routes within the City of Gastonia and is characterized as a “pulse” system with the majority of the routes beginning and ending at the Bradley Station at regular intervals. The agency covers nearly 295,000 miles per year, providing service to over 144,000 passengers in FY 2023. The system currently averages seven passengers per vehicle hour across all routes.