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Go West Covina microtransit expands ridership; city and vendor study potential savings from service consolidation
Summary
City's grant-funded Go West Covina microtransit pilot has rapidly grown since its November 2024 launch; vendor Via and city staff told the council service has strong user ratings and that combining dial-a-ride and microtransit could reduce costs.
City staff and vendor representatives gave the West Covina City Council an update May 20 on Go West Covina, the grant-funded microtransit pilot that launched Nov. 18, 2024.
Via, the contracted operator and software provider, reported rapid adoption: more than 7,000 completed rides since launch and 449 active app users as of April; May was projected to be a record month with roughly 2,700 rides and 500+ active app users. Via reported a 61% decrease in cost per ride compared with the fixed routes that were decommissioned in February and an improving cost profile as ridership grows. The service currently operates free to riders, MondayFriday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with five branded vehicles serving a defined zone and corner-to-corner virtual stops; wheelchair-accessible options and a call center are available.
Via and city staff also presented a consolidation analysis showing potential savings from "commingling" dial-a-ride and microtransit services. The consultant estimated roughly $115,000 in first-year savings by combining services that overlap within the Go West Covina zone and predicted an 8025 increase in daily ridership if saved hours were reinvested into microtransit. A resident testified that wait times have usually been short (often 5 to 15 minutes), and staff said they are exploring expanded hours for special events.
Why this matters: The pilot is grant-funded (LA Metro Visionary Seed Fund) and designed to test on-demand, technology-enabled transit as a complement to traditional fixed-route service. If commingling yields the projected savings, the city could reallocate transportation hours and funding to expand service or extend hours without added general-fund cost.
What comes next: Staff and the vendor will continue to monitor ridership and costs. Council directed staff to consider the consultant recommendation and to include potential local-return funding options for transit in forthcoming budget and Prop A discussions.
