Pantonium and Chatham-Kent Transit have partnered to launch a new nighttime on-demand transit service for residents of Chatham, Ontario.
Through this partnership, Chatham-Kent started offering an on-demand transit service on March 16, allowing riders to book bus trips from an app, online portal or by calling an agent to control where and when they travel. Boarding a bus without booking in advance is possible too; drivers simply input the rider’s trip and take them to their destination. Riders will be able to travel to and from any two transit stops in the city without the need for transfers. This on-demand service aims to improve mobility for people who need to travel at night.
The new service is powered by Pantonium’s EverRun software which autonomously routes buses in real-time to optimize for productivity. Pantonium says its solution helps operators maximize operational efficiency while providing a convenient service, expanding service area and increasing ridership.
Pantonium says it currently provides the city of Belleville a similar nighttime on-demand transit service which has resulted in a 300 percent increase in ridership, 70 percent increase in service area and a 30 percent reduction in vehicle mileage. Pantonium says it hopes to build on that success and bring positive results for both the citizens and municipality of Chatham-Kent.
Residents of Chatham started booking trips on March 16th. Riders can access this new transit service from 7:15 p.m. to 12:15 a.m., Monday through Friday.
