Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Wake County officials update Wendell commissioners on SmartRide microtransit service and growing demand
Summary
Wake County staff briefed the Wendell Town Board on SmartRide microtransit and GoWake Access usage, funding, operations, and planned trip caps after a year of growth driven in part by student riders and rising vendor costs.
Wake County transportation staff updated the Wendell Town Board of Commissioners Monday on SmartRide microtransit and GoWake Access services serving Wendell, Zebulon and Knightdale, reporting heavy year‑over‑year ridership growth, rising vendor costs, and plans to begin capping trips per rider to keep service within budget.
The county presentation explained how SmartRide, a microtransit pilot launched in 2019 and expanded in July 2024 to include Knightdale, is funded through a mix of local Community Funding Area (CFA) dollars and Wake Transit support, and is intended to fill first‑/last‑mile gaps to jobs, schools and medical appointments.
Wake County Transportation Manager Anita Davis, who led the briefing, said the program is funded in part by local CFA contributions and Wake Transit and emphasized the role of the demand‑response GoWake Access program for special populations. "GOAc Access demand response program has been a vital part of our community for the past 30 years in addressing significant gaps in transportation networks, specifically for special populations," she told the board.
Data presented by county analysts showed substantial usage in fiscal 2025: average SmartRide trip distance 8.25 miles, average in‑vehicle time…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
