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02/12/2024 05:03 PMWhen it comes to transportation, whether people or products, experts refer to the “first mile and last mile.” That wording reflects the difficulties in these critical stretches of a trip, and a new “micro-transit” pilot program, in conjunction with River Valley Transit (RVT), aims to bring that convenience to Madison and Guilford travelers.
The XtraMile program does not require advance booking to participate. Riders log into the app or call the RVT and simply enter where they want to go. The app will give an ETA and send users a notification when the shuttle bus is on its way to and from nearly anywhere in their service area, typically within 20 minutes of a request, according to RVT officials.
The River Vallet Transit agency is overseen by the Estuary Transit District and provides a variety of public transportation resources that serve 16 municipalities throughout Middlesex County and parts of New London County, according to its site. The RVT was formed in 2022 as a result of a merger between two existing systems, 9 Town Transit and Middletown Area Transit, which offers options that include traditional buses, trolleys, shuttles, taxis, and paratransit services.
Transit Planner for River Valley Transit (RVT), Brendan Geraghty, said the pilot program, with the state grant’s help, is seeking to bring these successful ride services to a wider geographical area.
“This program is actually coming from a state grant that we applied for and received. Specifically, micro-transit is very different from a traditional fixed route big city bus type of service. It is more of a shuttle service that’s on demand. It’s door to door. It’s more like a public transit ride share like Uber or Lyft,” said Geraghty. “People can simply call in or use the app and get picked up. The big difference between us and a ride-share service is one, we are public, and two, we are much cheaper than a standard taxi or ride service. This on-demand type of service is an increasingly popular method for suburban and rural areas.”
Geraghty added, “It’s a burgeoning technology that really has been successful. We’ve had microtransit available for more than five years now and are excited that we will now have more coverage. It’s a cool way to expand transit for everybody. It will provide that local service as well as greater access to the regional transit systems.”
The cost is $1.75 for each leg of the trip, according to Geraghty. Though the new pilot program is only for trips in and around Guilford and Madison, it can connect riders to other RVT and shoreline bus routes, as well as the local train stations.
Laura Francis, deputy director and director of transportation planning for the South Central Regional Council of Governments (SCRCOG), said there are numerous benefits to this type of service, especially in regard to the first mile/last mile concept.
“We are very fortunate that RVT received, with our help, a grant to run a pilot program for micro-transit programs for the towns of Guilford and Madison. What they call this is the Xtra mile service,” said Francis. “Really, what this program does is to provide a solution for the first mile and the last mile. Typically, public transit are fixed routes, but that doesn’t always meet the needs of people. If people can’t (get) to that bus stop to pick up a bus, then they are not utilizing that transit. How does somebody get to that bus stop, and how does somebody get home from that bus stop?”
Guilford and Madison currently are not within the service area of RVT, so the pilot program will be critical in determining whether this service can be effective for residents of the respective towns, according to Francis.
According to Geraghty, while seniors often avail themselves of this type of service for shopping and medical appointments, their data indicate that younger riders are utilizing the service as well.
“It will be door to door or door to stop. It is very exciting, and we are excited to see who will use this. Typically, people think about a senior population, but what they found in Middletown is that younger people like to use this,” Geraghty said. “This will provide a new level of local service that really wasn’t there before. This service can be utilized by folks who are already using the bus lines, and it will help [them] finish their journey. There are also folks who have never been able to get to the stops before. People in North Madison and North Guilford, especially if they don’t have a car, really don’t have a way to access the fixed route bus lines. We see a lot of high schoolers use it in our Old Saybrook area. One of the things that Laura [Francis] was excited about is that it’s obviously great for seniors to get to appointments and such, but we see that students and younger people can use this to get to sports practices and other activities when parents are busy. We are pretty confident, as our service in our current area is quite popular. It may take some time to build ridership, but we think it will fill a critical need. We’re excited to see how it goes.”
According to Geraghty, the program is expected to launch at the end of May, and the hours will be 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Note that the RVT schedule for its other service areas is slightly different.) The grant fully funds the program for at least the next two years, Francis said.
Guilford First Selectman Matt Hoey said that while the town has always had a robust micro transit primarily focused on seniors run out of the Parks & Recreation Department, this new service will enhance the ability to serve a wider section of Guilford riders.
“We are very excited that River Valley Transit was awarded this grant and thrilled to be part of this project in conjunction with Madison. We are really looking forward to running this pilot program…and to see what kind of demand there is for this service. The fact that residents have two years to take advantage of this is a plus as well,” Hoey said. “It will help supplement what we do for our senior and disabled population, as well as those who don’t qualify for senior/disabled ride services that we run out of the Park and Rec senior program. It’s a great opportunity to give our residents expanded transportation services. For those who don’t or can’t drive any longer, this will provide another method of service for them as well. There is definitely an opportunity to serve that younger population as well. For those students who may not have their licenses yet and need to get to various places in town, it’s a cost-effective way for parents to have an option.”
Madison First Selectwoman Peggy Lyons said town officials are eager to implement the program and gather data on its efficacy.
“What I think is great about it is that it provides a tremendous amount of flexibility for riders. We really have very little public transit north of I-95 here in town. This opens up a new opportunity for people to get to the public transit systems like the buses and trains or to get anywhere in the community," Lyons said. "It has been very successful in Old Saybrook, from what I was told, where they have had it for several years now and in Middletown as well. We’re excited about it. It is an opportunity to learn about how people adapt to using public transportation and to see who actually utilizes this.”
Lyons said that residents can expect information and links to be posted on the town website as the May launch date gets closer.
For more information, visit www.rivertransit.com. There will be updates on the program's official launch that will include all info, pricing, and hours. The RVT can be reached via phone for reserving/booking rides at 860-510-0429.