Buckhead Community Improvement District Approves Funding for Microtransit
Shift from fixed-route shuttle to on-demand service reinforces Buckhead’s reputation for innovation in local mobility
ATLANTA – Sept. 25, 2019 – Following a vote of approval by the Buckhead Community Improvement District this morning, Buckhead will soon be home to the first microtransit system in a major Atlanta office market. Buckhead was a local innovator in last-mile connectivity when it established the buc shuttle service in December 2003, and it continues that tradition by transitioning from a fixed-route shuttle service to an on-demand service in early 2020.
Microtransit is built around flexible routes and schedules, similar to popular ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft. Users download an app that allows them to request transportation when they need it, and within minutes a Mercedes 12-passenger Sprinter van arrives to pick them up and take them to their destination. In Buckhead the service will be available within the boundaries of the CID, which stretches from the Buckhead Village up to Piedmont Center, and across GA 400 to Lenox MARTA Station. While exact service details are not final, today’s vote approved funding to operate the buc microtransit during morning and evening commutes, as well as mid-day lunch hours.
“When we created the buc there was no such thing as a smartphone, much less on-demand transportation,” said Denise Starling, executive director of Livable Buckhead, the nonprofit organization that operates the buc. “Transitioning to microtransit allows us to provide a more convenient service for our current riders and also opens up opportunities for expanded service down the road.”
The buc will provide free transportation to anyone traveling to or from one of Buckhead’s two MARTA rail stations during morning and evening commute hours. The service will also be available for a small fee for trips not connecting to MARTA rail within the zone of service during regular hours of operation. This type of flexibility allows the buc to meet a wider range of local transportation needs.
“This is exactly the direction that we need to be heading,” said Thad Ellis, chairman of the Buckhead CID and senior vice president of Cousins Properties. “Microtransit leverages technology to deliver better service and provide critical operational flexibility. We’re excited about the opportunities this will bring to Buckhead.”
Today’s vote by the Buckhead CID approved a one-year contract for $607,000 with Via, one of the leading providers of on-demand public mobility solutions. Via’s mobile app connects multiple passengers who are headed the same way, allowing riders to seamlessly share a vehicle. First launched in New York City in September 2013, the Via platform operates in the United States and in Europe through its joint venture with Mercedes-Benz Vans, ViaVan. Via’s technology is also deployed worldwide through dozens of partner projects.
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About Livable Buckhead
Livable Buckhead is a nonprofit organization that strives to ensure the long-term viability and prosperity of the Buckhead community. The organization achieves its mission by working cooperatively with individuals, public entities and private businesses to integrate sustainable strategies. Livable Buckhead implements programs related to greenspace, recycling, energy efficiency, commute alternatives, arts and culture, real estate development and land use. For more information about Livable Buckhead and its programs, visit livablebuckhead.org.
About Buckhead CID
The objective of the Buckhead Community Improvement District (BCID), working with the City of Atlanta and its community partners, is to meet the challenges resulting from Buckhead’s rapid, primarily automobile-based growth, including improving safety, traffic mobility, enhancing the pedestrian environment, creating better access to public transit, initiating intra-district transportation alternatives, encouraging better integration of land uses and improving linkages to the region’s automobile, transit and bicycle networks. For more information please visit the Buckhead CID’s website, Facebook or Twitter.
