December 16, 2020 (CUTLER BAY, FL)—On Monday, December 14, the Town of Cutler Bay launched GO Connect, a near door-to-door on-demand public transit service. This new transportation option launched in partnership with the Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) and Via, the leader in TransitTech solutions, for the residents of the Town of Cutler Bay.
GO Connect provides residents and visitors with FREE rides, booked through a mobile app to the South Dade Transitway and within the Town of Cutler Bay. This is the second launching of the GO Connect service in Miami-Dade. The service was first launched in the Dadeland/South Miami area in October of this year and will continue to expand service to the Civic Center Metrorail Station area and West Kendall area by February 2021.
The vision of the partnership is to use technology to expand access to public transit countywide, alleviating congestion, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving affordable mobility options without the need for a private vehicle.
GO Connect complements and extends the existing mass transit infrastructure, while providing flexible and affordable mobility options when and where passengers need to go.
“I was proud to support this project as a Commissioner to bring more reliable, affordable transportation options to South Dade and help transit riders make the first-last mile connection,” stated Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “I’m thrilled that it’s now available to our community. With innovative leadership like we have in Cutler Bay we can work to reduce traffic while also attracting new riders to transit.”
To book a ride, users must download the GO Connect application in the App Store or Google Play and create an account. Riders will enter a desired pickup and drop-off address and receive the vehicle’s estimated pickup time, location and information. Via’s advanced algorithms will enable multiple riders to seamlessly and safely share the same vehicle, directing passengers to a nearby virtual bus stop within a short walking distance for pickup and drop-off, allowing for quick and efficient shared trips without lengthy detours. Riders will be able to easily track the vehicle’s progress in real-time in the mobile app.
Following social distancing guidelines set forth by the Miami-Dade County and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the service will limit the number of riders per vehicle, perform frequent and thorough wipe downs of the vehicle’s interior and high-contact surfaces, daily deep clean the vehicles, and require riders to wear a face covering. In addition, all GO Connect vehicles have been equipped with a plastic partition between drivers and riders, and the vehicle’s power sliding doors will provide a touchless entry and exit for riders.
For non-English speakers, the GO Connect app will be available at launch in Spanish, with Creole to follow. Riders without access to a smartphone can book a ride by calling (786) 321-5842. The service will offer wheelchair-accessible vehicles and offer door-to-door service for those with limited mobility.
GO Connect is available from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday to Friday, in the Town of Cutler Bay and from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Friday, in the Dadeland/South Miami Area.
As part of the Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit (SMART) Plan Demonstration Project, this service is being funded through a $577,500 Florida Department of Transportation and Miami-Dade County Transportation Planning Organization grant designated by the Citizens' Independent Transportation Trust (CITT), which will be matched by the Town.
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About Via:
Founded in 2012, Via pioneered the TransitTech category by using new technologies to power public mobility systems, optimizing networks of dynamic shuttles, buses, wheelchair accessible vehicles, school buses, and autonomous vehicles around the globe. Building the world’s most efficient, equitable, and sustainable transportation network for all riders — including those with limited mobility, those without smartphones, and unbanked populations — Via works with its partners to lower the cost of public transit and provide accessible options that rival the convenience of a personal car at a much reduced environmental impact. At the intersection of transportation and technology, Via is a visionary market leader that combines software innovation with sophisticated service design and operational expertise to fundamentally improve the way the world moves, with 150 global partners on six continents, and counting.