Community Mobility and Resiliency: Electric Micro-Shuttle Services in Westchester
Communities in Yonkers and Ossining are disproportionately impacted by the health effects of climate change and air pollution. Stakeholders have noted transit access and local development are priorities.
Circuit and its team proposes an electric micro-shuttle service to bridge first/last mile gaps without adding to congestion and air pollution. Circuit's cost-effective model aligns with how residents want to get around with the quality control of public transit.
Our data-driven solution and technology suite along with community surveys will enable us to measure success according to several criteria: ridership, performance, cost-effectiveness, community benefit, reduction in vehicle miles travelled, and reduction in tailpipe and greenhouse gas emissions.
By providing convenient, affordable connections for short trips, we are enabling residents to access opportunity, transit, and essential services. Shared rides in electric vehicles will also reduce congestion and transportation-related emissions and their negative health effects.
Given the combined problems of transportation-related emissions and lack of transit access with their effects on community health, along with the insights that a majority of trips are under 3 miles, our strategy focuses on providing fare-free shared rides in EVs for first/last mile trips.
Circuit will operate a turnkey micro-shuttle service using battery electric vehicles, including Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) options. Riders can request fare-free on-demand rides within the coverage area and hours of operation developed with the community partners. Riders can request free rides using our mobile app, by phone, or street hail. We own our proprietary technology platform, which enables us to customize service and reporting during planning and implementation. Our program can launch within 90-100 days of contract execution, providing up to 2.75 years of operations.
The impact will be greater within the 33 disadvantaged communities in Yonkers and Ossining and the two Municipal Housing Authority of Yonkers (MHACY) affordable housing communities. Coverage areas, operating hours, and key features will be designed according to local needs and feedback. Upon launch, the program will immediately begin to address local transportation needs, improve access to essential services, healthcare, and jobs, contribute to cleaner air and lower congestion, and address a main source of localized air pollution and contributor to the heat island effect. We measure success according to performance and impact metrics, including ridership, cost per rider, average wait time, rider ratings, and reduction in vehicle miles traveled (VMTs) and greenhouse gases (GHGs). We will work with community partners to identify and measure local indicators of success and consider any needed.