City, county to launch microtransit service
Lee County and the City of Sanford recently signed an agreement to begin a microtransit pilot program that will provide residents with on-demand transportation in designated service areas.
Sanford applied for a $3.4 million Mobility for Everyone Everywhere grant offered through the N.C. Department of Transportation.
The program is designed to expand 'high quality, on-demand services in rural low-income communities,' according to news releases from Sanford and Lee County.
Sanford, one of 11 cities in the state awarded the grant, applied after a 2022 study found that the microtransit program would provide 'affordable, efficient, reliable access in the city.'
Technology will be used to determine the routes and stops based on demand. It will complement the County of Lee Transportation Service, or COLTS, program by filling in gaps when needed and will provide weekend services, according to Assistant County Manager Angelina Noel.
It is predicted to provide means for elderly, disabled and 'everyday people to have access to provisions and services' and can be used by visitors for mobility.
'A consistent goal of our Strategic Framework has been to improve access for those who live in our community,' Sanford Mayor Rebecca Salmon said. 'This pilot project is an opportunity to provide an affordable transportation option in a collaborative and sustainable way.'
The system will provide an invaluable service for those re-entering the workforce or needing access to mental and behavioral health services or substance abuse treatment, according to Kirk Smith, chairman of the Lee County commissioners.
'The microtransit project we are about to undertake will help eliminate this barrier to treatment or employment by providing reliable transportation and overcoming this critical need,' he said.
The program is expected to start in the fall with a 23-vehicle fleet including three COLTS buses. Rides will be scheduled through an app or by phone.
Members of the Microtransit Advisory Board will include Salmon and Smith; Crystal Gaddy, director of Business Retention and Expansion for the Sanford Area Growth Alliance; Yanira Scott, executive director of El Refugio; and Wendy Bryan, executive director of the Sanford Tourism Development Authority.
This city-county partnership is the first of its kind in North Carolina, according to the news releases.
The pilot program allows flexibility to develop the best program for the community, Salmon said.
'It also lays the foundation for future funding to help with the costs of potentially expanding the service,' she added.
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