Truckeemicrotransit ridership soars as town moves pilot to year-round service

TAR Connect, Truckee's app-driven microtransit service, has moved from a pilot to an ongoing system and produced sharply higher ridership and lower per-rider costs, town staff said at the Trans-Sierra Transportation Summit.

"We started as a pilot in a few neighborhoods and now TAR Connect is townwide," Alfred Nottz, Truckee transportation program manager, said. "We increased annual ridership from about 30,000 passengers per year to over 200,000 passengers in roughly a year and a half."

Nottz told the panel the program began with limited geographic coverage and funding in 2022 and expanded after successive pilot iterations. The town also lengthened service hours to serve evening workers and tourists, and adjusted vehicle allocation daily using the service's ride-matching software.

Why it matters: Truckee's experience shows how small, tech-enabled transit services can shift travel behavior in small mountain towns where traditional fixed-route transit is expensive and slow. The town presented ridership, shared-ride and cost metrics as proof the model can serve commuters, residents and event crowds.

Details and supporting facts

- Cost per passenger: Nottz said Truckee's prior dial-a-ride service cost about $85 per passenger; TAR Connect reduced that figure to about $12to$13 per passenger in the most recent reporting period after the app-based model and operational changes. "We brought that down for the very, very similar service," he said.

- Shared-ride rate: The share of trips that were shared rose from roughly 23% under older services to about 60% under TAR Connect, which the town said increases vehicle occupancy and reduces vehicle miles traveled.

- Seasonal and time-of-day patterns: Town data show ridership peaks in summer and winter but remains stronger than earlier fixed-route service during shoulder seasons. Nottz said weekday and weekend ridership are nearer to parity than planners expected; the system serves commuters, students and visitors. He said the program aims for average wait times of about 20to25 minutes.

- Funding and governance: The town described the service as moving out of pilot status for fiscal year 202526'26 after voters approved a local tax (referred to in the meeting as Measure E) that supports ongoing operations. Nottz said the pilot had five iterations before expanding to townwide service.

Quotes and context

"If you only remember one thing from today, takeaway this: microtransit is a technology-enabled mode of transportation that functions like a small bus within a predetermined service area, only stopping where there is demand," Chris Murray of Downtowner said during the panel.

"People who were isolated by winter weather were suddenly able to get to a coffee shop or work," Nottz added, describing winter service extensions and the effect on accessibility.

What the town is watching next

Town staff said they will continue to refine service hours, improve customer outreach, and focus on safety and rider experience. They highlighted ongoing data collection (trip origins/destinations, peak hours and shared-ride rates) to optimize vehicle allocation and to support grant applications for long-term funding.

Closing note

Town officials described TAR Connect as part of a multi-modal strategy that includes bike-share, vanpools and event shuttles. They said the microtransit results strengthen Truckee's case for additional state and federal grants aimed at reducing congestion and greenhouse gases.