SMART Bus, Moovit launch first on-demand shared transit service in Farmington and Farmington Hills

Moovit and SMART Bus have partnered to provide on-demand service in Farmington and Farmington Hills, Mich.

The new service launched Nov. 16; residents can now use the free Moovit iOS and Android app to plan their journeys and book their trip on the SMART Quick Connect On-Demand service — a dynamically-routed transit system that automatically assigns multiple passengers heading in the same direction to a shared vehicle.

SMART currently operates a Dial-a-Ride service in Farmington and Farmington Hills, which uses a phone-based request and dispatching system that results in relatively long wait times for a ride. SMART is partnering with Moovit to bring more convenient mobility and to modernize the service, provide more and easier access to requesting a ride and tracking the bus, and reduce the amount of time a rider waits.

Residents can now use the Moovit app to book on-demand transit rides with SMART and enjoy efficient, convenient and affordable shared microtransit shuttles that arrive when and where they want it. Moovit Transit On-Demand enables multiple riders to seamlessly share a ride, with a dynamic route and schedule, for a next generation rider experience. To kick off this partnership, SMART Bus will operate this service on weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and offer free rides until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“SMART is taking a big step by modernizing the Dial-a-Ride service in Farmington and Farmington Hills and is now able to offer quick, convenient and more a reliable way to ride around their community,” said Robert Cramer, deputy general manager of SMART. “We are always looking for ways to improve service, meet the increasing demand for transit as well as address the challenges the pandemic has imposed. Partnering with Moovit and offering the on-demand feature to riders allows us to address all of these issues with one application, while also developing new and innovative ways to deliver better services with our existing resources.” 

Once a user launches the Moovit app, inputs their destination and selects Transit On-Demand with SMART, Moovit will:

• Display the total cost of the trip once fare collection resumes.
• Direct passengers to a nearby pickup location. Once the ride is booked, riders receive guidance to a virtual bus stop within a short walking distance.    
• Provide riders with real-time shuttle tracking. While waiting for their ride, users can track the approaching SMART Bus in real-time and view its ETA. While riding, users can view the route on the map, as well as the estimated time to dropoff.
• Enable future ride booking, for those who need to plan their days in advance.

“We are excited to partner with SMART Bus and power this new mobility offering for Farmington and Farmington Hills residents for greater access to transit and shorter wait times,” said Yovav Meydad, Moovit’s chief growth and marketing officer. “Complementary to traditional modes of transportation, Moovit On-Demand can help residents get around efficiently without the need of a private vehicle.”