Regional planners ask Cheshire County to consider sponsoring microtransit pilot to expand rural service

JB Mack, assistant director of the Southwest Regional Planning Commission, told Cheshire County officials on Wednesday that a phased, app‑based "microtransit" pilot could significantly expand public transportation in the region and asked the county to consider acting as sponsor or contributor for the effort.

Mack said the region currently has limited transit outside Keene, with roughly 29,000 rides provided annually by existing services. He described microtransit as a zone‑based, shared‑ride model (similar to Lyft or Uber but routed to serve multiple passengers) that can reduce wait times, provide real‑time vehicle tracking and better serve low‑density travel patterns common in Cheshire County.

"I'm the assistant director at Southwest Region Planning Commission," Mack said, introducing the project and the team; he said the effort builds on a 2022 feasibility study and community outreach. Presenters said one modest scenario could raise annual riders from about 29,000 to roughly 64,000 and expand access to "70% more people" and "46% more jobs," based on national comparisons and similar pilots.

The presentation included two budget scenarios: a lower‑cost model in which Cheshire County would cover about 20 percent of operating costs (presenters cited roughly $71,000 in one scenario) and a larger, $1.1 million model that would require broader municipal and institutional participation. Presenters said funding could come from a mix of local contributions, state support, federal grants, institutional partners, advertising and fare revenue; they also said they had secured a Department of Transportation technical assistance grant to support planning.

Presenters emphasized the county's existing role in transportation: it currently manages federal 53 10 funds that are subgranted to local providers and already provides trips for programs such as the Department of Corrections and treatment court. They said an expanded system could free county staff from driving duties, improve program compliance and provide backup when volunteer driver services are unavailable.

County officials pressed the presenters on costs and fairness to rural towns. One official representing 13 largely rural communities warned that many towns would rarely use a Keene‑centric service and objected to asking small towns to fund a program they would not benefit from. "You're going to take money from them, and this is going to be Keene‑centric," the official said, adding that they "will not support" requiring small towns to contribute for limited direct benefit.

Mack and colleagues acknowledged those concerns and described multiple sponsor models: Cheshire County could serve as a grant recipient without operating the system; a contractor could run day‑to‑day operations; or the county could choose to contribute only staff or limited funds. Presenters also said a phased pilot could start small, demonstrate demand, then expand if warranted; they estimated the earliest full implementation would be fiscal year 2027 under optimistic timelines.

No formal commitment or vote was taken. Presenters said they will make a similar, shorter presentation to the county delegation next week and return to county officials for further discussion as planning proceeds.