The Gastonia City Council has approved a 36-month, $1.65 million contract in the first year with River North Transit, LLC to provide on-demand transit services to riders, who complete approximately 144,000 trips annually. The improved service will launch July 1, 2024. The amended service delivery will not displace ADA transportation services (para-transit).
“We saw a need to provide on-demand microtransit transportation to our residents as our city continues to grow,” said Mayor Richard Franks. “This move away from fixed-route buses will provide cost savings and will increase accessibility for everyone in our community.”
The City also determined that on-demand microtransit will address a limited service area, hour-long wait times, an aging fleet of buses, and inequitable access to bus stops.