Metropolitan Tulsa Transit Authority Launches On-Demand Microtransit with RideCo, Unwire, and DART

TULSA, Okla. and MINNEAPOLIS, April 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - RideCo, in partnership with Metropolitan Tulsa Transit Authority (MTTA), Unwire, and Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), is powering an exciting new on-demand microtransit program in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Since August 2020, the riders of MTTA have been able to plan their transit journeys and purchase their passes from the award-winning GoPass® app, delivered by DART through Unwire's Mobility Platform.

Tulsa residents are now presented with new choices in the GoPass® solution, including full integration with RideCo's on-demand microtransit platform. The new integration empowers the riders to plan, book, pay for, and track their multimodal journey across traditional fixed routes and on-demand microtransit, enabled by RideCo.  

Public transit is no longer simply the traditional modes such as fixed-route buses and trains. Although these remain the backbone of public transit, alternative modes of transportation need to be considered when assessing how to make mobility more equitable and accessible. By integrating RideCo's on-demand microtransit platform with MTTA's existing mobile ticketing and trip planning solution, the rider avoids the hassle of having to download multiple apps to execute their end-to-end journey. Multimodal journeys are now seamless and easy to navigate.

How Does It Work? When requesting a trip in the GoPass® app, riders are matched with the best available option and the trip is then serviced by a fleet of vehicles in the designated area. On-demand fits around the user, not the other way around. It offers a solution to first/last mile problems, short point-to-point trips within a zone, and connections to transit hubs, enabling more access to traditional public transit. In addition, on-demand microtransit trips are affordable as they are included in the standard transit offering, providing more access to a broader range of users.

"MTTA's vision is to make transit easily accessible for all citizens. Greater flexibility and superior rider experience will encourage more people to use transit," stated Scott Marr, General Manager at MTTA. "Our new partners RideCo and Unwire have helped make our vision a reality as we launch the on-demand service. It is now completely integrated with all modes of transit, making end-to-end trip planning on a single app a reality."

The integration is supported by a strong partnership between Unwire and RideCo that will enable agencies using Unwire's Mobility Platform to leverage the innovative Unwire-RideCo integration in their solutions. 

"We are delighted with the new integration of RideCo in our Mobility Platform. It ties into the very core of what Unwire's platform is all about, and we are looking forward to following how this new integration will support the transit operations of MTTA," said Rikke Espe, Chief Commercial Officer at Unwire.

"DART and MTTA have maintained a multi-year partnership to jointly deliver world-class mobility solutions powered by DART's GoPass® app," said Gregory Elsborg, VP and Chief Innovation Officer at DART. "The integration of RideCo with GoPass® enables Tulsa to add flexibility to their service offering while expanding rider options. We have learned a lot through operating DART's GoLink service. It has been our pleasure to share these learnings in support of a successful rollout for Tulsa's on-demand program while working with new and long-standing partners in RideCo and Unwire."

"RideCo is constantly looking for ways to continue driving innovation through integrating with other platforms to further enhance public transit and connect more riders to the fixed-route system," stated Prem Gururajan, Founder and CEO at RideCo. "Working alongside Unwire, DART, and the team at MTTA, we have created a personalized experience for riders, one that's convenient, efficient, and affordable."

RideCo is an industry leader in on-demand transit technology, enabling on-demand ridesharing for transit riders around the globe. We partner with transit agencies, municipalities, and experienced local fleet operators to design and operate on-demand transit services. Our solutions reduce travel time, decrease walking distance, and increase service frequency for riders while lowering transit agencies' cost-per-ride, reducing demand for parking, and attracting net new riders to transit systems. RideCo continuously drives innovation and to-date has been awarded U.S. Patent Nos. 10,248,913 ; 10,853,743 ; and 11,429,910. To learn more about our proprietary cloud-based platform and how it can revolutionize mobility in your city, visit www.rideco.com. 

The Metropolitan Tulsa Transit Authority (Tulsa Transit) was formed in August 1968 by the City of Tulsa. Tulsa Transit was set up as a public trust to continue the operations of the private bus service that had been run by the Missouri, Kansas & Oklahoma bus company (MK&O Lines).

Today Tulsa Transit services 199 square miles of Tulsa and surrounding areas such as Jenks, Sand Springs, and Broken Arrow. We operate Fixed Route and Paratransit bus services, and Tulsa Transit administration is overseen by a seven-member Board of Trustees.

Unwire is a Danish based company, specializing in mobility solutions, and built on more than two decades of experience with mobile solutions and public transit fare collection.

Unwire's Mobility Platform is a white-label mobility solution for transit agencies, cities, and their citizens, that enables seamless end-to-end journey experiences. From planning, booking, and paying for multimodal journeys to communicating with the passengers, Unwire removes barriers to mobility so that everyone can get on board.

Unwire's Mobility Platform powers solutions for multiple transit agencies in the US, including Tulsa Transit, Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Charlotte Area Transit System, Valley Metro, and Minnesota Valley Transit Authority.

DART is the public transit agency for 13 cities in the North Texas region. It operates an extensive multimodal network of DART Light Rail, Trinity Railway Express commuter rail, Dallas Streetcar, bus routes, GoLink on-demand services, and paratransit services, providing service to more than 220,000 passengers per day across our 700-square-mile service area.

SOURCE RideCo Inc.