What residents need to know
At a March 4 meeting, Sugar Land City Council approved a contract with River North Transit LLC for a microtransit pilot program, an on-demand ride share service offering affordable transportation in a limited service area. The service is the first of its kind in the Gulf Coast region, Melanie Beaman, transportation and mobility manager for Sugar Land said.
The Sugar Land On-Demand service was initially announced in August to expand upon the county’s Fort Bend Transit Program, which lacks on-demand trips and has limited availability, she said.
What they’re saying
City Council members, including mayor pro tem Suzanne Whatley, said they were excited to bring a new transportation resource to residents.
“We’ve done something spectacular here by bringing a service to our city that is going to do a great job for so many people that need it,” she said.
A closer look
The Sugar Land On-Demand fleet features seven on-demand vehicles, including five fully electric sedans and three hybrid wheelchair accessible minivans, Beaman said.
Riders will be able to request services via an app or phone call within the microtransit service area, and a vehicle will arrive within 12-15 minutes for only $2 per trip, according to agenda documents. Additional riders can be added for $1.
The 18-square-mile service area in central Sugar Land includes:
- Sugar Land Regional Airport
- University of Houston at Sugar Land
- Two park-and-ride lots
- Smart Financial Centre
- Constellation Field
- Commercial shopping centers
- Area hospitals
Services will run Mondays through Fridays from 6 a.m.-9 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Beaman said.
The cost
The three-year program will be funded by a nearly $3.6 million Houston-Galveston Area Council grant and a $1.5 million local match, which will come from Fort Bend County’s 2023 voter-approved mobility bond, Beaman said.
Additionally, collected fares will be used to help fund the program, she said.
Looking ahead
The pilot program will launch March 18 and will run one year with the option to add two one-year extensions, Beaman said.
