Nonprofit Wild Steps to pilot app-based carpooling at four Flagstaff schools with city sustainability grant

During the meeting’s open call to the public, Dr. Kate Rose, director of the nonprofit Wild Steps, described a city sustainability grant-funded pilot to promote app-based carpooling for Flagstaff families.

Rose said the pilot will partner with Flagstaff Unified School District and its superintendent to launch a no-cost opt-in program at four schools: DeMiguel, Puente, Marshall and MEMS. The program will use a software platform called carpool.school and aims to reduce vehicle trips, air pollution and congestion and to help ‘‘solve our bus crisis in Flagstaff,’’ Rose said.

Rose described the platform as providing ‘‘security and autonomy to families’’ and said the pilot is intended to create a scalable model that could expand to other Flagstaff schools next school year. She invited residents to contact the sustainability office or Wild Steps for more information and provided an email address for follow-up.

Council members acknowledged the project and staff said the sustainability office had awarded the grant. Rose distributed flyers and encouraged families to opt in when the pilot launches. The pilot’s timeline for opt-in and specific operational details beyond the partnership with FUSD were not specified at the meeting.