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County to pilot microtransit with Via partnership; app booking and EVs planned
Summary
Via Partnership and county staff outlined a countywide microtransit pilot that will begin with a central zone and expand countywide; the service will use electric vehicles (per grant), a branded smartphone app and phone‑dispatch option, and will include outreach to seniors and other riders.
Christine Truth of Via Partnership and Lewis County staff presented a microtransit plan that pairs on‑demand smaller vehicles, a booking app and phone dispatch to fill service gaps in rural transit. The pilot will begin in a central zone and expand to full county coverage using electric vehicles to meet New Mobility program requirements.
Truth said riders will be able to request trips via a branded app or call a dispatcher and receive text or phone updates. "They will be directed where their vehicle picks them up, and they'll be able to track the vehicle before and during the ride," she said, describing door‑to‑corner pickup flexibility depending on density.
County staff said drivers will be locally hired and subject to background checks and training; pay will be hourly at or above a living‑wage rate rather than per-trip. The program includes marketing and hands‑on outreach (for example, demonstrations at senior facilities and farmers' markets) so residents unfamiliar with app booking can use the service.
In the pilot phase the central zone will operate first, with expansion driven by usage data. The app is not yet launched for Lewis County; staff said they can share live examples from other counties while Lewis County branding and configuration are completed.
