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Imperial County proposes microtransit app and unified fares for IVT Ride to boost ridership
Summary
Transportation staff proposed a transition of IVT Ride to a microtransit model with a mobile booking app, unified fares ($2 general, $1 seniors/PWD), extended hours and an opening target of Sept. 2 with a free‑fare launch week.
Gustavo Gomez, senior transportation planner for the Imperial County Transportation Commission, presented a proposal on July 22 to modernize IVT Ride by adding a mobile app, standardizing fares across cities and expanding service hours.
Under the plan presented, the county would move from a phone‑only, reservation‑by‑dispatch dial‑a‑ride model for seniors (55+) and persons with disabilities to a hybrid microtransit system. The proposal would keep seniors and persons with disabilities as a priority group with the ability to reserve trips in advance while opening same‑day, app‑based trip booking to the general public within city service areas.
Key proposal elements Gomez described include unified fares across service areas — $2 per ride for the general public and $1 for seniors and people with disabilities — and PCA (personal care attendant) travel at no charge. Gomez said the county proposes Monday–Friday service from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekend hours of 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., with an anticipated 30‑minute pick‑up window for app requests. He said the project team plans community outreach, senior‑center workshops and a one‑week free‑fare launch, and aims to begin the expanded service on Sept. 2.
Gomez said current barriers include phone‑only scheduling, varying city hours and differing fares. He noted West Shores would retain some special scheduling because of remoteness and that the project will include targeted outreach in senior housing and nutrition sites.
Board members asked about cross‑jurisdictional connections, including links to SunLine and Coachella Valley transit for West Shores residents. Supervisor Ryan Elliott Kelly pressed staff to pursue stronger connections so West Shores residents could travel to medical and regional destinations without long border delays. Gomez said the commission is planning conversations with SunLine and an ongoing comprehensive operations analysis of the region’s transit network.
Gomez also said staff will hold a public hearing at the Imperial County Transportation Commission meeting and additional outreach sessions to solicit community feedback as the plan moves toward implementation.
