Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transit topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
SWRPC pitches 'next generation' micro‑transit; commissioners raise concerns about Keene‑centric model
Summary
Southwest Regional Planning Commission presented a micro‑transit plan intended to expand regional ridership from about 29,000 to a projected 64,000 annually; commissioners questioned whether rural towns outside Keene would benefit and whether the county should sponsor or simply fund critical rides.
The Southwest Regional Planning Commission presented a multi‑year plan March 12 proposing a "next generation" micro‑transit system for the Monadnock/Southwest region centered on Greater Keene.
JB Mack, assistant director at SWRPC, said the project aims to address gaps in rural transit by using a micro‑transit model (an app and call‑center combined shared‑ride service) to reduce wait times and expand hours. Mack said existing ridership in the Keene area is roughly 29,000 trips per year and a modest micro‑transit rollout could raise that to roughly 64,000, with the county asked to consider a sponsorship role.
Mack described one funding scenario in which Cheshire County would cover about 20% of the operating budget—"that's in blue at about 71,000"—while partners such as municipalities, Keene State College and Cheshire Medical Center and fare/advertising revenues would cover the remainder. He framed the approach as phased, starting in urbanized nodes and expanding outward where demand justifies it.
Multiple commissioners and members of the public pushed back that a Keene‑focused pilot may not serve very rural towns—one commissioner summarized concerns as: "You're talking about Keene centric... this serves a few communities ... I am not gonna support that if it will only serve Keene." SWRPC staff said the plan anticipates phased growth and partner contributions and offered follow‑up data on town‑level demand.
SWRPC indicated the earliest realistic start would be fiscal year 2027 and said it has secured technical assistance grants and initial state funding to develop the planning and business case. Commissioners asked for town‑level ridership estimates and asked staff to present the plan to the delegation and other municipal partners before any county budget commitment.
