Springfield to transition bus network to on‑demand microtransit under proposed five‑year RiverNorth contract

Springfield city staff and a team from Via Transportation outlined plans to replace much of the city’s existing fixed‑route bus network inside a new microtransit zone with an on‑demand service to be operated by RiverNorth Transit LLC under a proposed five‑year contract.

The presentation, given at a work session, said the microtransit service would expand geographic coverage, reduce wait times and eliminate many transfers by allowing residents to request shared rides in real time via a smartphone app, web portal or phone line. Alex Lavoie, chief operating officer for Via, told the commission Via will provide “a turnkey solution” including software, local operations, marketing and community engagement.

City staff and Via framed the change as the result of a multi‑year review by the Springfield Transportation Coordinating Committee (TCC). Glenn Massey, identified in the presentation as the TCC transportation planner, was named as having led the review that flagged long waits and coverage gaps on the current fixed‑route system.

Why it matters: presenters said the microtransit zone would increase access across a wider area of the city and reduce average wait times to roughly 15–20 minutes. Via estimated that more residents would have access to jobs within a 30‑minute transit trip compared with the current system.

Service design and timeline: Via said it is in a service‑design phase of weekly workshops with city staff. The company described on‑the‑ground technology testing and rider outreach in May–June, a one‑week overlap of the new service and the existing fixed routes at launch, and full operation from July onward. Clara Canales, part of Via’s implementation team, said the firm plans to maintain a staff presence in Springfield to operate and iterate the service after launch.

Fares and accessibility: Via proposed a simplified end‑to‑end fare of $2 and a reduced fare of $1. Presenters said the city’s existing ADA paratransit certification process would be retained for riders who qualify for door‑to‑door service; the presentation stated the paratransit fare would remain $4 for eligible riders. Via said a substantial portion of the vehicle fleet will be wheelchair‑accessible and that pre‑scheduling will be available for riders who need it.

Vehicles and staffing: Via said the fleet for Springfield will include Toyota Siennas configured for shared rides and wheelchair accessibility; the company emphasized local hiring for driver positions and said it will match the wages of existing fixed‑route drivers who wish to transfer. Lavoie said drivers will undergo background checks and annual refresher training including ADA and sensitivity training.

Pickup model and safety: Via described a ‘‘virtual bus stop’’ approach—pre‑mapped, safe pickup points within a block or two of a rider’s requested location—while acknowledging door‑to‑door trips will be configured for riders with limited mobility who are certified for paratransit. In response to a commissioner’s question, Via said staff will combine online mapping and in‑person field scouting to evaluate whether pickup spots allow drivers to pull over and riders to board safely.

Contract status: The commission’s agenda later included a first‑reading ordinance to grant RiverNorth Transit LLC authority to operate the city’s microtransit service for five years with options to renew. No final contract vote or ordinance adoption was recorded in the meeting transcript; commissioners heard the staff and vendor presentations and asked questions during the work session.

What’s next: presenters said Via and city staff will continue public engagement (materials in English, Spanish and Creole were promised) and provide data to the city after launch so officials can monitor performance and adjust service design.

Ending: Commissioners expressed support for the concept during the work session and asked staff to bring more contract details for formal consideration in subsequent meetings.