Engage in robust targeted marketing and communication when forming partnerships with private mobility providers.

Experience of one transit agency entering a pilot service delivery partnership with a microtransit operator.

Date Posted
07/16/2018
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Identifier
2018-L00821

RideKC: Bridj Pilot Evaluation: Impact, Operational, and Institutional Analysis

Summary Information

Researchers at the Transportation Sustainability Research Center (TSRC) at UC Berkeley conducted an evaluation of the RideKC: Bridj pilot program operating in Kansas City, MO. RideKC: Bridj is a public-private partnership with the goal to enhance existing public transit options in Kansas City through a flexible microtransit service offered by Bridj. TSRC UC Berkeley's goal in this evaluation is to assess the travel behavior impacts of the service, as well as to provide operational and institutional analysis. Interviews of experts involved at various levels of pilot project implementation were conducted, and the findings from completed interviews are summarized in this slide deck.

This report is an evaluation of a pilot partnership between Kansas City Area Transit Transportation Authority (KCATA) and Bridj, a microtransit provider. The evaluation report summarizes some key takeaways from the pilot and includes some challenges faced and lessons learned based on interviews of experts involved at various levels of the pilot project implementation. The interviews provide insights into the unique challenges faced by RideKC: Bridj as a public-private partnership.

Lessons Learned

Marketing and communication to potential customers is critical. Microtransit operators are relatively new to the market. As a result, public transit agencies entering into public-private partnership with operators such as Bridj often to do not communicate to customers how to use the application or service to help retain engagement early-on in the pilot program. Effective marketing should be focused on the widest possible population as possible so potential riders can learn how to efficiently utilize their new transportation options. Marketing and communications efforts should be rooted in a deep understanding of local transportation options in order to tailor to specific potential rider groups and identify service areas that will justify the level of service during certain times of day.

Goal Areas
System Engineering Elements

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