Delaware Transit Corporation Launches DART Connect Micro Transit Service
4/14/2021
To learn more about DART Connect, visit https://dartfirststate.com/Programs/dartconnect/
"Delaware Transit Corporation (DTC), in partnership with Via, the leader in TransitTech, have launched DART Connect, the state’s first on-demand microtransit service that will transform mobility in the rural communities of Georgetown and Millsboro in Sussex County, Delaware. DART Connect is a pilot project funded under the Federal Transit Administration’s Accelerating Innovative Mobility highly competitive grant program."
“Nearly six percent of households in Sussex County lack access to a vehicle,” said Veronica Vanterpool, DTC’s Chief Innovation Officer and project manager for DART Connect. “It is important that transit agencies test new technologies and explore innovative service models to provide quality bus service for our customers, especially those with limited mobility options.”
Via’s innovative IMS technology will create a fully connected mobility network that transforms the way DTC provides transit service, particularly in rural, low-density communities, where service can be infrequent and ridership can be low. DART Connect, is technology-powered transit that will reduce barriers to transit access, such as the lack of first/last mile connectivity to transit and strengthen the employment sector in rural Sussex County. The results of this pilot project will serve as a blueprint for cities and transit agencies across the US to expand access to affordable, efficient and equitable transportation solutions.
“We are proud to partner with Delaware Transit Corporation to expand access to equitable, efficient and sustainable transportation for rural communities,” said Via CEO and co-founder Daniel Ramot. “This new service demonstrates the tremendous opportunities that are created when Federal funding is made available for tech-enabled transit solutions.”
"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 200 global partners on six continents, and counting. "