Two years after proposing the idea, the city is prepared to pilot a new Smart Ride system next month, an on-demand public transportation or microtransit service that is eventually expected to replace existing bus routes.
The service is similar to what someone could expect from a ride-hailing service like Uber, but with an estimated $1.75 per ride fare on a 12-seat mini-bus or van. The $1.75 proposed fare is what it costs now to ride a bus in the city. Riders will be able to use a computer or download an app and use a cellphone to call for service.