DERBY – Officials from The Valley Transit District said a new, “microtransit service” is scheduled to launch on April 1.
The service will provide on-demand services for people looking for a ride, similar to what companies such as Uber and Lyft offer.
But the Valley transit service – dubbed “VTD2GO” – will be priced at just $2 per trip.
The first ride will be free, in an effort to get people to try the service.
“To use the microtransit service, riders can download the “VTD2GO” app (available on Apple iOS & Google Play) or call the designated phone number at 203 – 735-6408 to schedule a ride,” according to a prepared statement from the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG).
One of the Valley Transit small buses will pick ridersyou up and take themyou where you need to go. The bus may stop to pick up others who’ve ordered a ride at the same time.
VTD2GO is part of a pilot program announced by Gov. Ned Lamont this week.
The state’s Department of Transportation is funding nine microtransit programs in Connecticut for $19.5 million. It’s a two-year program.
Since it’s a pilot program, there are restrictions, including the service area – right now it’s parts of Ansonia, Derby, and Shelton – and the hours offered.
The service area starting out stretches from Route 115 in Ansonia in the north down to Route 8 and Bridgeport Avenue in Shelton to the south. Click here to see the complete map, in addition to checking out the image below.
The hours are 5:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Those hours were set by the state.
The Valley Transit District currently offers a “dial-a-ride” service for people from 6 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., but it requires advance registration and rides must be requested 24-hours in advance, according to Richard Donovan, the NVCOG’s transportation planning director.
“VTD2GO is available to everybody and it’s available in real time,” Donovan said.
Vehicles should arrive about 10 to 15 minutes after ordering, Donovan said.
Donovan said the program could be useful for everyone from students to people looking to try a new restaurant.
“We’d love to see students using it, anybody who is staying after school activities, people who would otherwise have to sit and wait for a ride,” Donovan said. “We would love to see people going out to restaurants in Ansonia or Shelton take the train up or take the bus up and then use this service to get to the restaurant.”
The Valley already has train and bus service, but it’s limited.
“It is expected that the new microtransit service will provide more opportunity for those who don’t have a car to travel later in the evening after VTD service ends,” Donovan said.
Jim Gildea, a Derby resident who is the chairman of the Connecticut Public Transportation Council, said the new service is a good compliment to existing public transit.
“The ability to provide a steady and reliable last mile service should further increase the ability to get commuters to take advantage of public transportation in the region,”” Gildea said.
The VTD2GO service is being provided in partnership with VIA Mobility LLC. The pilot program will continue until April 2025.
Government-subsidized microtransit programs are a growing trend across the U.S. Click here for an article from Governing.com that details the pros and cons of such programs.
Click here for more info about VTD2Go.
