RAPID CITY, SD—Rapid City Transit System (RTS) will host two public workshops next week seeking feedback on a micro transit feasibility study to evaluate its existing transportation services.

The public workshop sessions are scheduled next Thursday from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Milo Barber Transportation Center, 333 Sixth Street, and from 6-8 p.m. at General Beadle Elementary School.  In addition to the workshops, the public can provide complete an online survey from September 28 through October 19 at www.rtsgomicro.com .

The goal of the micro transit feasibility study is to analyze current ridership patterns, assess community needs, identify gaps in service and develop recommendations to implement a demand-based micro transit service.  

“Micro transit is a technology-enabled shared ride service that uses smaller vehicles such as vans or minibuses to provide flexible routing within specific areas of the community,” said RTS Manager Megan Gould. Gould says micro transit allows riders to request rides using a smart phone, website or phone call. Rather than riders being picked up at a transit stop, they can be picked up and dropped off at the curb.

Gould said RTS is seeking whether micro transit can improve service efficiency, reliability and accessibility for the Rapid City community.  The study is meant to identify how a service could fill transit gaps where RTS fixed routes don’t currently provide connection. The recommendations will identify areas were RTS could consider implementing a pilot micro transit service.