Salisbury, NC launches microtransit service in partnership with Downtowner

January 15, 2026 (SALISBURY, NC) – The City of Salisbury is officially launching its much-anticipated microtransit pilot program, branded as Salisbury Connect, on Monday, January 19, 2026.  This on-demand service is designed to function similarly to rideshare apps but for the cost of public transit. 

Salisbury Transit Director Rodney Harrison said, "It has taken us a few years to get here, but today we are proud to offer Salisbury Connect, our microtransit pilot project, to our community.  Mayor Tamara Sheffield adds “The Salisbury Connect service meets the City’s strategic goal to implement a micro-transit program to connect neighborhoods and residents with growing economic opportunities and improve mobility for all.  We are excited to provide this service to the community.”

Downtowner Holdings is the microtransit service provider and they will administer operators, vehicles, software, and management for Route 3 (serving Spencer, East Spencer, VA-Medical Center, and Novant Health Rowan Medical Center and ADA Paratransit service.

Key Launch Details:

• Service Area: The pilot will initially replace Route 3 (Blue Route), which serves parts of Salisbury, Spencer, and East Spencer.
• Operating Hours: The service will be available Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Promotional Fares: For the first 60 days, rides will cost $1.00, with a discounted rate of $0.50 for seniors (60+), students with ID, people with disabilities, and Medicare recipients. All trips booked using the app are free for the first two weeks of service.
• How to Ride: Passengers can request same-day pickups through a smartphone app or by calling (704) 228-7296.
• Fleet: The service will launch with five Toyota Sienna minivans, which are ADA-compliant. 

The program is funded by a $2.8 million grant from the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program (RURAL) to support the Mobility for Everyone, Everywhere in North Carolina (MEE NC) Project.

Salisbury Connect will run for an initial pilot period to evaluate long-term demand and sustainability. 

###

The City of Salisbury is located in the heart of the Piedmont region of North Carolina, midway between Charlotte and Greensboro. Salisbury is the county seat of Rowan County, and provides a full range of municipal services, including law enforcement, fire protection, zoning and code enforcement and water and sewer systems. For more information regarding the City of Salisbury and its services and departments, please visit us on the web at www.salisburync.gov. To receive updates regarding local initiatives, meetings, programs and events, please follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CitySalisburyNC