On Monday morning, Albemarle County launched a new on-demand public transportation system for two areas outside the traditional bus routes. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi reports.
The Charlottesville Area Transit system – CAT for short – has expanded their services with MicroCAT – a fleet of Toyota Sienna minivans that will connect more of the county's 115,000 residents with the public transportation system. People can request a fare-free ride on the MicroCAT app or with a phone call, and get picked up in the Pantops area or Route 29 corridor north of the city up to Piney Mountain.
PETER LAFFORD: [sound of engine, turn signal] Then they can get on the bus and take the ride downtown, do their shopping, their errands, whatever. They take the bus back to the same location and on the app they can request a MicroCAT ride back to their home.
Peter Lafford, one of the drivers, has prior training in operating Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles.
LAFFORD: My father was in a wheelchair the last couple of years of his life, though he lived to be 101! I am used to, then, working with people in wheelchairs and making sure they're secure and comfortable and all of that.
Director of Transit Garland Williams explained that the whole public transportation system is designed to get people to work, activity centers, doctor's appointments, churches, and beyond.
GARLAND WILLIAMS: This is a way for us to go into less dense areas, into neighborhoods specifically and get individuals and bring them out. More of that curb-to-curb feel. … This is a wonderful day for transit. Launching this new service is desperately needed in our region.
The program was awarded a $1.5 million grant from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, and $388,000 from Albemarle County. Similar initiatives have been launched in at least seven other localities in the state, and a group in Rockingham County is working on one, too.
