New Braunfels City Council received an update on its Ride the Rio! microtransit service Sept. 22. The service is part of the city’s ongoing efforts to enhance public transportation and meet the growing mobility needs of residents, as previously reported by Community Impact.
Two-minute impact
A microtransit service is on-demand public transportation that uses technology to create dynamically routed mobility, according to the presentation.
“It’s like many other transit modes in that it’s a shared ride. And so, for example, if I was going from the library to my home, the system would try to find other folks that are generally traveling in the same direction to match me up with,” Via Territory Lead Sarish Kasat said.
Via Partnership Principal Thomas De Ridder said the service will cover a 47-square-mile area.
“Within that zone, people can request a ride from anywhere whenever they want. And so that creates this concept of true maximized flexibility and convenience,” De Ridder said.
Riders can pay using cash, credit or debit cards, or over the phone. The service will be available from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. daily. The cost for service is as follows:
- $4 per ride for the general public
- $2 concessionary price for eligible riders
What’s next?
City staff hope to present the Via contract to council in October, New Braunfels Transit Manager Julie Sitton said.
Ride the Rio! is anticipated to launch Nov. 5, the presentation states.
