The Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) in Tennessee and its partners will launch Groove On-Demand, a dynamically routed on-demand public transit service on February 10.
In partnership with Via, MATA says that Groove On-Demand will expand access to affordable, efficient, and convenient public transit for all riders in the greater Downtown Memphis area, including the Medical District and New Chicago.
The goal of the service is to support access to jobs, commercial, and medical opportunities in Downtown Memphis without the need for a private vehicle. Development in Downtown is growing rapidly, with $5 billion in the development pipeline and a 15% increase in population since 2000.
Riders will be able to hail a vehicle directly from their smartphone using the Groove On-Demand mobile app, and can travel to any location within the service area during operating hours. Groove On-Demand is a shared ride service, and Via’s advanced algorithms match multiple passengers headed in the same direction to provide quick and efficient shared trips.
“Nearly three years ago, MATA was selected to receive free technical assistance to help develop mobility on-demand projects such as this one,” Gary Rosenfeld, Chief Executive Officer at MATA, said in a statement. “The launch of Groove On-Demand is another opportunity for MATA to improve how people connect to their destinations using an on demand-response service that transports riders directly from their doorstep to their destination. Another great benefit of this service is that it will greatly improve transit service to people who live in density challenged neighborhoods.”
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SOURCE: Memphis Area Transit Authority
