The city of Houston this week launched an app for its Community Connector shuttle service as part of a ten-month pilot project.
"Taking a cue from ride-hailing services, the Metropolitan Transit Authority plans to debut an app next week that will allow riders to book trips with its existing on-demand shuttles," reports Dug Begley in a paywalled article for the Houston Chronicle.
"Once it goes live Sept. 8 in two areas, the app will bring an Uber-like interaction to shuttle users in Metro’s three established Community Connector zones, including the ability to rate the service and the driver," adds Begley.
The app, called curb2curb, adds a new way to access existing on-demand transit service through the Community Connector service, launched simultaneously with Houston's vaunted bus system redesign in 2015.
The app is being launched in a 10-month pilot project, reports Begley. The pilot "will study whether an app and so-called microtransit services such as neighborhood shuttles serve a demand in Houston that makes financial sense." The curb2curb app will be offered for Community Connector service in three parts of the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County service area: Missouri City, Acres Homes, and a large area north of Kashmere Gardens.
FULL STORY: Transit on demand: Metro launches app to boost neighborhood shuttle program
Houston Council Member Questions Microtransit Investment
METRO’s support of an on-demand microtransit service comes as the agency is scaling back its bigger bus projects.
New App Would Enable On-Demand Public Transit
As transportation network companies like Uber and Bridj make it easier for some to opt out of the public transit system, a new app would help transit agencies offer more user-centric services.
A Brief History of Kansas City’s Microtransit
The city’s costly experiment with on-demand transit is yielding to more strategic investment.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
Test News Post 1
This is a summary
Test News Headline 46
Test for the image on the front page.
Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service