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Rosemead reports strong early ridership and high satisfaction for 'Rosemead Go' microtransit pilot
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Summary
City staff and operator Via presented a six‑month review of Rosemead Go and Rosemead Go Plus: initial ridership exceeded expectations (2,000+ in month one; Oct peak 6,148), met‑demand rate around 91%, a 4.9 average rider rating and high returning‑rider metrics; staff and Via said they will refine vehicle types and charging access and continue outreach to seniors.
City staff and Via Transportation told the Rosemead City Council that the Rosemead Go microtransit pilot is meeting early performance goals, with high rider satisfaction and steady month‑over‑month growth after its summer 2025 launch.
Via’s Alex Battisti told council the system recorded more than 2,000 rides in its first month and a high month of 6,148 rides in October during the pilot period reported to council; Via reported a met‑demand rate of about 91% for the period shown and an average ride rating of 4.9 out of 5, with roughly 96.7% five‑star ratings among recent respondents. Battisti said repeat use is strong: “If you take a ride once, you are 60% likely to ride more than five times,” which the operator cited as evidence of rider loyalty.
City and operator staff described the program as a partnership between Rosemead and Via, replacing the prior fixed route and dial‑a‑ride service. Staff showed a real‑time operations portal used for week‑over‑week adjustments and noted a mix of general public microtransit fares ($1) and an eligibility‑managed Go Plus service priced at $0.50 per ride for seniors. Staff reported account growth (nearly 2,000 accounts created in the pilot window) and said 1,461 of those accounts had taken at least one ride.
Speakers acknowledged some operational concerns from seniors about vehicle ingress (half the fleet is electric small‑format vehicles) and said the operator will explore slightly larger vehicle types and local charging options to address rider needs. Via staff also noted supply flexibility through leasing partners and said grants support could finance charging and fleet changes over time.
Councilmembers praised outreach to older residents and the operator’s language‑accessible enablement sessions before launch. Councilmember Sean Dang, who championed the program, said staff did a strong job of outreach and that he has heard “nothing bad” from constituents about the change. Staff said they will continue promotional work to increase community awareness and will return with any recommended adjustments.
The council did not take a specific vote on the program at the meeting; staff described the pilot as an 18‑month effort with the next reporting and planning steps to follow in subsequent months.
