Richmond will soon launch its own shared, on-demand shuttles for residents to hail at “virtual bus stops” within the city.
The new Richmond Moves service will offer three plug-in, hybrid vehicles for people trying to get across town — especially commuters who need a lift to catch a public transit ride such as BART or a ferry.
After a soft launch planned for Wednesday, the seven-passenger vans will hit the road for good April 25, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. They’ll charge $2 per trip, though students 13 to 18 years old and seniors at least 60 years old can ride for free.
Denée Evans, Richmond’s transportation services project manager, said the new program springs from the city’s 2019 approval of a strategic plan for enhancing the “first and last miles” that people must travel to reach transit hubs.
While the shuttles will initially be limited to only 5.6 miles of the city’s 50 square miles — targeting “popular” destinations such as Point Richmond, Civic Center Plaza and the Richmond and El Cerrito BART stations — she said the service will help those who may struggle with finances and overall mobility.
“Richmond Moves will be crossing over all the city’s transit lines within that 5.6-mile radius, so it can connect all the missing gaps,” Evans said. “The way we planned it, it would hopefully cover the short distance from people’s homes to get to those main pickup routes, which also helps us with the efficacy of the program if we’re not making as many personalized stops.”
While 80% of the shuttles’ service area will serve historically low-income and disadvantaged residents, she said everyone in town is welcome to use the vans to help reduce their transportation carbon footprint.
Residents can plan a trip for up to five passengers, who each will be charged a fare, by booking a ride through the Richmond Moves smart phone app or calling 510-937-3657. If people nearby are going to the same place, riders may sit next to others not in their party.
Wheelchair accessible rides — including curb-to-curb service — are also available upon request. Service animals and pets inside carriers that can fit alongside the seats will be allowed to board the electric vehicles.
This program isn’t unique to Richmond; Cupertino recently launched a similar fleet of vans through Via, a company that has contracted with dozens of transit operators in California for its ride-hailing technology. But while the South Bay service may target tech workers coming in and out of Silicon Valley, Evans said Richmond’s program aims to provide an affordable and accessible local transit option.
Evens said Richmond Moves is fully funded for its first three years, thanks to a $1 million grant awarded to the city from the Clean Mobility Options Voucher Pilot Program. With help from the California Air Resources Board, Evans said the service is now part of the billion-dollar California Climate Investment Program to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen the economy and improve public health in disadvantaged communities.
As more funding becomes available, Evans said she hopes Richmond Moves evolves into a city-wide operation.
“Given that our resources are limited, we can’t go as far as we would like to go,” Evans said. “But if we can make it convenient, which was our goal by making it an on-demand service, I don’t see any reason why more people wouldn’t want to use this.”
Source: www.mercurynews.com