AGENDA DATE: 1/15/2025
TITLE:
Title
MicroCat Update
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Presentation on the MicroCat service
ITEM TYPE: Regular Information Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Wall, Herrick, Filardo, Barnes, McDermott
PRESENTER (S): Kevin McDermott
LEGAL REVIEW: Not Required
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: The Albemarle County Transit Expansion Plan, completed in early 2022, was a planning exercise funded through a Department of Rail and Public Transit (DRPT) Grant and managed by the Thomas Jefferson Planning District (TJPDC) to evaluate opportunities to expand and improve transit throughout much of the Albemarle County Urban Development Areas. The result of that study was a recommendation to implement a micro-transit service to serve the Pantops and Places 29 - North Development Areas through a pilot program to determine the feasibility of this type of service to address transit needs in those areas. Micro-transit is a relatively new transit mode being implemented across the country. The service is an on-demand, technology-enabled solution that offers real-time trip requests and dynamically routed vehicles.
In 2023 Charlottesville Area Transit (CAT) applied for and received a $1.94 M demonstration grant to implement micro-transit in the Pantops and Places 29 - North Development Areas. The County committed to a local match for this grant of $388K. An evaluation was performed by CAT and Albemarle County to determine the operating model and release a Request for Proposals to contract with a micro-transit service provider to operate the service. Following a competitive procurement process, the contract was awarded to VIA to operate the service. This contract was for one year of service with up to three years of possible renewals. During the contracting and planning phase, the County, CAT, and VIA were able to realize additional service areas and operations to enhance the service beyond the initial proposals and provide added value to the County’s residents. This included a significant expansion of the service area to cover all of the County’s Development Area adjacent to US 29 from Hydraulic to Piney Mountain (Attachment A). The service began operating in late-October 2023 and has been a tremendous success.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Thriving Development Areas - Attract quality employment, commercial, and high density residential uses into development areas by providing services and infrastructure that encourage redevelopment and private investment while protecting the quality of neighborhoods.
DISCUSSION: The presentation is focused on providing the Board an update on the service as it enters its second year of operations. Albemarle County staff, the Director of CAT, and members of the VIA team will present on operation aspects of the service including ridership, customer feedback, and the financial overview. The presentation will also open the conversation about the future of the service. This portion will cover the 2nd year of service currently underway, options for after the two-years of service of that has been agreed on in the DRPT Demonstration Grant, potential expansion opportunities that have been discussed with the City and VIA, and the opportunities for additional grants to continue the service into the future.
BUDGET IMPACT: The Board of Supervisors previously committed funding to support this micro-transit demonstration grant. No additional funding from Albemarle County is requested at this time.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends the Board receive the update and provide feedback to the presentation team.
ATTACHMENTS:
A - MicroCat Service Area