Riverton — The Wind River Transportation Authority (WRTA) told the council on Dec. 16 that fixed-route redesign and a microtransit model are next steps to improve service efficiency in Riverton.

WRTA Director Tim Nichols said November ridership totaled 3,636 passengers, of which 1,044 rode fixed routes and 2,592 used demand-response or demand-response–style services. Nichols said WRTA will roll out microtransit — same‑day, zone‑based service similar to on‑demand ride offerings — for travel within Riverton city limits while preserving fixed routes where they make sense.

Nichols reviewed pilot numbers: October provided 873 passengers, November 876, and 16 days into December the Riverton area counted 675 passengers. He said performance metrics indicate demand‑response yields high per‑rider use and that fixed-route passenger‑per‑mile figures are low (about 0.09 passengers per mile), prompting a planned service redesign to improve cost‑effectiveness.

Nichols described microtransit as a way to provide reliable first‑and‑last‑mile connections to fixed-route hubs, aiming for short wait times (the program’s target is roughly 15 minutes, though he conceded WRTA is not there yet). WRTA plans to share preliminary fixed‑route redesign findings and proposals after the authority’s board reviews options and will prioritize efficiency and responsible stewardship of public dollars.

Council members thanked Nichols for the update and asked for follow‑up proposals and metrics to evaluate performance. Nichols also introduced new operations manager Glenn McCully and highlighted staff professionalism and a new uniform for WRTA drivers.

WRTA will return with proposals and a timeline after board consideration.