Mobility-on-demand updates: The Routing Company, city of Gainesville, MTM Transit

The Routing Company (TRC), the city of Gainesville, Fla., and MTM Transit have launched mobility-on-demand transit services in their respective communities. 

TRC 

TRC is partnering with the city of Whittier, Calif., and its transit operator, the Parking Company of America (PCAM), for the firm’s first deployment in Southern California. TRC notes the partnership establishes its seventh in the state of California, joining forces with FAST, Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit, the city of Vacaville, Solano Transportation Authority, Plumas Transit Systems and Lassen Transit. 

The city of Whittier, a community located 12 miles southeast of Los Angeles, spans 14.8 square miles and serves a population of just under 100,000. The city operates dial-a-ride and microtransit services managed by PCAM. 

TRC says the 16-vehicle on-demand pilot service, which includes 15 shuttle vehicles and one shared with La Habra Heights, will deliver responsive dial-a-ride service in English and Spanish. Service is anticipated to launch early spring 2025. The pilot aims to enhance mobility solutions for the city’s residents while aligning with the city’s long-term transportation and sustainability goals in its 2021-2040 Envision Whittier General Plan, which outlines significant investments in mobility and infrastructure.   

"The city of Whittier and PCAM's vision for transformative and accessible transit perfectly aligns with TRC’s mission to deliver innovation, efficiency and unmatched support to agencies and their communities,” said TRC CEO James Cox. “This partnership demonstrates the strength of our Pingo platform and its ability to adapt to the unique needs of both urban and suburban settings. We’re proud to be a part of Whittier's mobility journey and look forward to helping the city achieve its long-term goals of sustainable, multimodal transit." 

TRC notes that after successful completion of the six-month pilot, PCAM has the option to extend service for an additional three years. 

"Accessible and responsive transit plays a vital role in enhancing the quality of life for our residents while fostering a robust local economy. This partnership directly supports Whittier’s 2021-2040 Envision Whittier General Plan by enabling a connected, responsive and multimodal transportation system,” said Whittier City Manager Brian Saeki. “This service also addresses our goals of reducing traffic congestion, improving first-mile/last-mile access through Pingo’s Transit Connect feature and advancing environmental sustainability. Together with TRC, we are paving the way for innovative mobility solutions that will benefit all our residents and workers.”  

TRC says the service will leverage its Pingo™ platform, encompassing a rider-facing app, a driver-facing app with real-time routing, an operational tool for managing daily transit services and comprehensive data analytics and reporting.  

Pingo Analytics™ is TRC’s next generation customer transit analytics and reporting tool that offers customer data access, with self-serve data and reporting tools available to help partners create reports to meet U.S. Federal Transit Administration's National Transit Database requirements or to generate any report an operator needs, whether in real time or based on historical data.  

TRC notes the Pingo™ platform, which includes the Drive Pingo™ and Ride Pingo™ apps and the Pingo Dashboard™ operations tool, has powered nearly two million trips to date, helping agencies deliver efficient, flexible and scalable transit services. 

City of Gainesville  

The city of Gainesville has launched a Regional Transit System (RTS) mobility-on-demand service in east Gainesville. The service will offer free transportation to clinic visits, health screenings and other essential community resources. The shuttles go door-to-door for passengers who can’t walk to an RTS bus stop or need additional support to reach their destinations reliably and affordably. 

According to the city, research shows limited transportation options continue to impact families in need of healthcare in communities across the U.S. The city of Gainesville says a 2023 study by the Urban Institute found 20 percent of people without access to a vehicle or public transit missed receiving needed medical care due to transportation barriers. The mobility-on-demand solution from the city of Gainesville is expected to help bridge that gap. 

“This initiative is about making sure everyone in our community has access to the services they need to stay healthy and thrive,” said Gainesville Mayor Harvey L. Ward. “By offering free, on-demand transportation, we are removing barriers and making vital resources more accessible to our neighbors in east Gainesville.” 

The city says the mobility-on-demand service has vehicles that run on weekdays from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The vehicles take passengers to any destination within the east Gainesville mobility-on-demand zone. The service is a refresh of the first mile/last mile program, with the goal of supporting the transit needs of young families, neighbors with limited incomes and anyone lacking reliable transportation for daily activities, including attending medical appointments. 

The city says residents can schedule a ride up to seven days in advance using the RTS Connect app, which is available for download on both iOS and Android devices. After the ride request is received, an RTS vehicle will pick them up at their home and take them directly to their destination at no cost. The city says those without access to a smartphone can also schedule rides by calling the RTS Connect Center. 

The city notes locations that can be visited through the mobility—on-demand service include: 

• The new UF Health Urgent Care Center. 
• The Florida Department of Health in Alachua County. 
• The Partnership for Strong Families Family Resource Center. 
• The Cone Park Branch of the Alachua County Library. 

The city notes the service is funded through the local option gas tax. 

MTM Transit  

MTM Transit has launched the Wanda mobility-on-demand service in St. Louis. The agency notes Wanda is designed to provide reliable transportation services that relieve caregiver burden and is tailored to meet the needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities who do not qualify for resources like Medicaid and Medicare non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT). 

According to the agency, Wanda empowers individuals to stay connected with their communities, friends and families, offering a vital resource to maintain independence and enhance quality of life by offering transportation for medical appointments, social outings, grocery shopping and more. 

MTM Transit notes the success of Wanda in Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz., since its launch in early 2024 has paved the way for the expansion. According to MTM Transit, users in Arizona have benefited from the service's dependable performance, online booking system and customer service. 

"We are thrilled to launch Wanda in St. Louis and bring this invaluable service to the community where MTM began nearly three decades ago," said MTM Transit President and CEO Alaina Macia. "Our goal is to ensure that seniors and individuals with disabilities have access to safe and reliable transportation that keeps them connected to the people and activities they love. The success we've seen in Arizona has shown us how impactful Wanda can be, and we're excited to expand its reach, starting in our hometown." 

According to MTM Transit, Wanda offers ride booking through its online portal, which allows riders and caregivers to schedule trips with just a few taps. Account owners can book and manage rides on behalf of others, making the service particularly beneficial for busy caregivers and families.