The city of Houston this week launched an app for its Community Connector shuttle service as part of a ten-month pilot project.
"Taking a cue from ride-hailing services, the Metropolitan Transit Authority plans to debut an app next week that will allow riders to book trips with its existing on-demand shuttles," reports Dug Begley in a paywalled article for the Houston Chronicle.
"Once it goes live Sept. 8 in two areas, the app will bring an Uber-like interaction to shuttle users in Metro’s three established Community Connector zones, including the ability to rate the service and the driver," adds Begley.
The app, called curb2curb, adds a new way to access existing on-demand transit service through the Community Connector service, launched simultaneously with Houston's vaunted bus system redesign in 2015.
The app is being launched in a 10-month pilot project, reports Begley. The pilot "will study whether an app and so-called microtransit services such as neighborhood shuttles serve a demand in Houston that makes financial sense." The curb2curb app will be offered for Community Connector service in three parts of the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County service area: Missouri City, Acres Homes, and a large area north of Kashmere Gardens.
FULL STORY: Transit on demand: Metro launches app to boost neighborhood shuttle program
Houston Council Member Questions Microtransit Investment
METRO’s support of an on-demand microtransit service comes as the agency is scaling back its bigger bus projects.
New App Would Enable On-Demand Public Transit
As transportation network companies like Uber and Bridj make it easier for some to opt out of the public transit system, a new app would help transit agencies offer more user-centric services.
A Brief History of Kansas City’s Microtransit
The city’s costly experiment with on-demand transit is yielding to more strategic investment.
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?
Florida Seniors Face Rising Homelessness Risk
High housing costs are pushing more seniors, many of them on a fixed income, into homelessness.
Massachusetts Budget Helps Close MBTA Budget Gap
The budget signed by Gov. Maura Healey includes $470 million in MBTA funding for the next fiscal year.
Milwaukee Launches Vision Zero Plan
Seven years after the city signed its Complete Streets Policy, the city is doubling down on its efforts to eliminate traffic deaths.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont