Case Study
Via WRTA
Westborough/Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, USA
Urban
Suburban
Microtransit, First-and-last-mile
5 Chrysler Pacificas, including wheelchair accessible vehicles
46k+
rides since September 2020 launch
3.2
average vehicle utilization as of late 2022
Overview
The Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA), which covers the Central Massachusetts region, realized that its legacy community shuttle service no longer served the changing area. Limited access to desired locations and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) commuter rail stations resulted in low public transit ridership. In partnership with Via, WRTA launched a microtransit service called Via WRTA in September 2020 to connect residents to jobs and schools, and provide an alternative to private vehicles.
Solution
Via’s technology enables ride booking and real-time vehicle tracking in the Via WRTA app or by phone, at just $2 per ride and $1 for trips to and from MBTA commuter rail stations. The efficiency-boosting algorithm dynamically routes vehicles when and where they are requested.
Since launching, Via WRTA has served 9k riders and completed 46k+ rides. And as evidence of its early success, the service expanded northeast into the neighboring suburb of Shrewsbury to cover a combined 25+ sq. mile service area in April 2021.
With easier access to essential destinations at an affordable price, more riders began leaving their private vehicles at home, resulting in an average utilization of more than 3 rides per service hour as of the end of 2022. The cost per ride also continued to shrink throughout 2022, from $26.79 per ride in January to $18.65 in November.
Our partnership with Via showcases what the next generation of public transit can and should be, allowing us to increase access to local MBTA stations, enhance access and connectivity to jobs, and reduce the reliance on owning a private vehicle.”
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