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Richland County presents federally funded RCT Flex pilot to serve early/late shift workers
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Summary
County and transit staff briefed commissioners on RCT Flex, a roughly 12‑month, federally funded pilot (over $720,000 including research) to add early/late deviated loop routes and research employment outcomes; pilot begins May 4 and includes employer partnerships and a University of Minnesota evaluation.
County and transit staff presented details April 16 on RCT Flex, a federally funded pilot intended to expand access to work for residents with nonstandard shift hours. Presenters said the Mobility Access and Transportation and Security Grant is funded by the Federal Transit Administration, administered through the University of Minnesota, and that the pilot’s implementation phase (phase 2) is fully federally funded.
Jean Taddy (identified in the record) described the service design: two loop routes (branded Route 17 — green — and Route 18 — orange) that will circulate hourly and include a quarter‑mile deviated pickup buffer for eligible riders. Riders requesting a deviation would pay an additional fare (presenters said roughly $2) on top of the regular fare; the service will also operate flag stops along routes to reduce walking. The presenters said some employer stops were included to match shift times at companies such as Mansfield Engine Components and Taylor Metals.
The project includes a research component: NECIC (North End Community Improvement Collaborative) is assisting with recruitment and administering research tasks; the University of Minnesota will study treatment and control groups with pretest/posttest surveys, and some control‑group participants will receive $50 stipends for participation. Presenters said the grant covers more than $720,000 in federal funds for local staff, stipends, drivers and the research effort, and estimated the pilot will run about 12 months beginning May 4.
Commissioners were invited to preview stakeholder runs (a stakeholder preview was scheduled for April 21); a local reporter, Carl Honnold of Richland Source, confirmed he received a press release and indicated he would attend. Presenters said they will continuously monitor ridership and employment data to evaluate whether the service improves hiring and retention and whether results are replicable elsewhere. The presenters emphasized that a decline in ridership could be an intended positive outcome if it indicates riders obtained reliable private transportation after gaining stable employment.
The board thanked the presenters for securing the competitive grant and for organizing community and employer partnerships; commissioners expressed interest in the research findings and how the pilot might be sustained if local partners choose to support it after the federal seed funding ends.
