Cape Cod RTA outlines ridership, new tech and grants in Falmouth briefing

Tom Keogh, administrator for the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority, briefed the Falmouth Select Board on transit initiatives affecting Falmouth, describing service expansions, technology pilots and grant-funded fleet investments.

Keogh said three realtime electronic displays are now installed at Falmouth shelters and cited SmartDart, the RTA's on-demand ride-hail service, as a major success: "To date, since we started SmartDART, there's been 10,641 rides in the town of Falmouth," he told the board. Keogh described a recent low-no grant award (approximately $14 million) that funded 13 45-seat electric buses and discussed a multi-year capital plan to migrate the RTA fleet toward electric vehicles over a 10–15 year window.

Keogh also described a "Go Card" registration for seniors and disabled users (about 3,300 registered), free-fare pilots for particular user groups, a partnership to include Steamship Authority ridership in national transit reporting, and an ambassador program at the Steamship Authority transportation hub. Board members asked for supporting data and for route analyses; Keogh said the RTA recently retained a consultant (Via) to review fixed routes and that staff would share key figures by email.

Select Board members praised the RTA's performance and asked about routing to new housing developments and potential service on Sandwich Road and Gifford Street; Keogh said the RTA is reviewing fixed-route placement and said the DART (demand-response) program could supplement areas without fixed routes.