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City manager outlines SpartaGo microtransit pilot: 3 vans, $250,000 minimum, service map to cover half the city
Summary
City Manager Chris Story described the SpartaGo microtransit pilot, operated by Via, as a demand-response service running weekdays 6 a.m.–6 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m.–6 p.m., with three vans, a minimum cost of $250,000 and an initial promotional offer of four free rides.
City Manager Chris Story told the Spartanburg City Council on Sept. 8 that the city is preparing to launch a microtransit pilot branded “SpartaGo” to provide on-demand, shared rides in parts of the city over the next several weeks.
Story said the pilot is a supplement to the city’s fixed-route system and will be operated by a contracted vendor, Via. He described microtransit as “on demand public transportation enabled by technology” that groups passengers into shared rides using routing algorithms.
Key details: Story said the pilot will deploy three vans, serve a compact geography that covers “over half of the city population” including downtown, the hospital campus, portions of the North Side, the Highland neighborhood and corridors along South Church Street. Operating hours will be Monday–Friday, 6 a.m.–6 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. The minimum cost to launch is a quarter million dollars (about $250,000), funded primarily by federal grant funds with a local match. The stated per-ride fare is $2, and the city will offer the first four rides free during the first two months as a promotion.
Why it matters: City leaders said the pilot aims to increase transit access and flexibility for residents, reduce long waits inherent to some fixed routes, and generate operational data that would inform future transit planning. Council members asked about hours, rider safety, technology access for seniors, and whether the service could be redeployed during fixed-route cancellations.
Council questions and answers: Councilwoman Lutijohn said she was “glad to see” the pilot geography expanded from earlier versions and asked to ride the service. Councilman Foreman asked about initial investment; Story said the minimum expenditure depends on utilization but cited a minimum of $250,000. Council members asked whether the city or vendor would staff drivers; Story said the contract vendor will staff the vans and has local hiring underway. Council members also asked about safety systems; Story said the vehicles will include GPS and standard safety features and are “state of the art.”
Next steps: Story said a “quiet rollout” will begin in the next week with vans visible around town and a more intensive marketing push around Sept. 23. He said staff will collect data during the six-month pilot and return to council with results and recommendations.
