Winnipeg Transit (CITY OF WINNIPEG / FILE)
Winnipeg Transit is launching a pilot project to replace its DART service, aimed at on-demand bus rides to service passengers.
Called Winnipeg Transit On-Request, the new service will allow riders to book a trip through a mobile app to be picked up at designated locations throughout the city.
“Across our country, all transit services grapple with how to supply the most accurate service to meet the unpredictable changes in demand,” said Mayor Brian Bowman. “This pilot project will use innovative software to address those unpredictable changes in demand in a way that has seen success in cities across Canada.”
The pilot project will utilize the three existing pickup locations used by “dial-a-ride-transit” (DART), but will be renamed to On-Request 101, On-Request 102 and On-Request 110.
The service will officially launch on August 12, while the app will be available in the App Store and on Google Play by August 6. Rides can also be booked online using a web browser or by calling 311.
On-Request comes at a cost of $140,000, which is being funding by a technology grant from the city’s innovation and technology department.
