TARTA Launches Microtransit Service in Lucas County and Rossford, OH, 2023

The Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) has launched TARTA Flex, an on-demand microtransit service that serves lower-density areas across Lucas County and Rossford. Through TARTA Flex, customers can request shared curb-to-curb rides within three separate zones: a zone for the community of Rossford, a Northwest Zone, and a Southwest Zone. The latter two zones have overlapping areas that allow customers to transfer microtransit vehicles. Customers who qualify for TARTA’s paratransit service can also use TARTA Flex across the agency’s entire service area as long as their trip begins or ends in any of the Flex zones. Customers can book their rides up to 24 hours in advance through a mobile app, phone, or web portal or in real-time and expect a pick-up within 30 to 60 minutes. TARTA Flex operates from 7 AM to 9 PM during the work week and from 7 AM to 7 PM on weekends and holidays. Standard single-ride fares cost $3; customers can transfer onto TARTA’s fixed-route system for free and pay an additional $3 for transferring into another microtransit service zone. Fares can be paid through the TARTA Flex app or with exact cash on the microtransit vehicle.

TARTA was able to procure Via as the booking, payment, and routing technology vendor for this service through its membership in NEORide. NEORide, a council of governments for transit agencies in five states, secured an agreement with Via that allows its member agencies to procure its services without undergoing a request-for-proposal (RFP) process.

TARTA Flex functions as a replacement for TARTA’s Call-a-Ride service. New technologies have made on-demand transit services more convenient, often resulting in transit agencies phasing out legacy services. As a microtransit service, TARTA Flex is meant to serve customers outside of the service area of TARTA’s 30 fixed bus routes.

Last updated March 8, 2023