Sugar Land approves one-year microtransit pilot contract with RiverNorth Transit

City of Sugar Land Council on Tuesday approved a one-year contract with RiverNorth Transit LLC to launch Sugar Land On Demand, an on‑demand shared microtransit pilot operating within an 18‑square‑mile zone of central Sugar Land.

Melanie Beeman, the city’s transportation and mobility manager, told the council the turnkey service will include vehicle operations, real‑time routing and scheduling software, a rider mobile app and a phone line for people without smartphones. "The fleet will consist of three hybrid wheelchair‑accessible minivans and five fully electric sedans," Beeman said, adding fares will be $2 for a primary rider and $1 for each additional passenger.

The pilot’s initial term is 12 months starting with a planned launch on March 18; the council approved a not‑to‑exceed first‑year contract amount of $1,527,969 and a budget amendment to account for three years of funding. Beeman said federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAC) grant funds total $3,582,528 over three years, with a 20% local match of $895,632. Fort Bend County previously committed $1,500,000 from its mobility bond toward the project’s local match and potential service expansion.

Why it matters: the pilot is intended to provide same‑day shared rides for roughly 43,000 residents inside the service zone, connect to two park‑and‑rides and to local medical and shopping destinations, and offer wheelchair‑accessible vehicles and a low fare. "We looked at where most people are trying to get to," Beeman said; she said census data guided the service area selection to include concentrations of elderly, disabled and lower‑income residents likely to use the service.

Councilmembers asked about costs, service design and equity. Councilmember Stuart sought clarification on the $5,082,528 budget amendment that the staff package covered across federal, county and local sources; Beeman pointed to the federal grant, county bond funds and the local match. Councilmember Nishaun asked whether riders could be picked up along a routed trip; Beeman said shared stops are part of the design "so it’s more efficient." Councilmember Jennifer Lane asked how the city decided against contracting with Uber; Beeman answered that the CMAC grant requires electric vehicles and the program’s shared‑ride, federally vetted driver training and drug‑testing requirements differ from a standard ride‑hail service.

Councilmember Wadley moved approval of the four requested items: (1) execute a service contract with RiverNorth Transit LLC (maximum $1,527,969 for year one), (2) grant an exception to Resolution 10‑29 to allow limited use of the city logo for the project (vehicle wraps and marketing), (3) authorize the city manager to publish the Sugar Land On Demand app to the Google Play Store, and (4) authorize a $5,082,528 budget amendment in revenues and expenditures to cover three years of project funding. Councilmember McCutcheon seconded the motion. The council voted 7–0 in favor.

The city will begin the pilot with Monday–Friday service from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday service from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Beeman said the contract allows two additional one‑year extensions by mutual agreement and that the service scope could be adjusted in years two and three based on usage data.

What remains to come: staff said they will proceed with vehicle wraps, app publication, outreach to hospitals and other anchor destinations, and data reporting to evaluate whether to expand or adjust service zones or hours. The council did not set further conditions in the meeting minutes beyond the approvals recorded.