Westport (CT) Wheels 2 U (microtransit) about public service, not profit, transit director says

  • Date: 12/28/2021

The Westport Transit District may be looking to increase ridership for the Wheels 2 U service, but the transit department’s director said he is more focused on ensuring they provide a public service to the community than on turning a profit.

Gold said the Wheels 2 U shuttle provides a number of benefits to the town. Some of the benefits include shorter trips for commuters, greater town coverage than the previous fixed route system, a reduction in town congestion and parking demand as well as reducing pollution.

During the reporting period between July 1, 2021 and Oct. 31, 2021, the Wheels 2 U service has had a total of 4,683 rides. The amount of riders has also increased each month with only 971 riders in the month of July and 1,427 riders in the month of October. There were 1,493 riders during the month of November, however, Gold said that number is lower than it might have been due to the four-day holiday weekend.

The total cost of the service during the same reported period has been $287,614. About $193,930 is paid by the state of Connecticut, approximately $84,310 was funded by the town and just over $9,360 was paid for by the commuter fares.

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