Rocky Mount considers city-run ridesharing service as alternative to bus routes

Rocky Mount city leaders are considering microtransit as a new way to get around town.

A report reviewed this week by Rocky Mount leaders recommended keeping eight of the city’s busiest bus routes and replacing two of them with microtransit zones where residents could call a city-run rideshare.

“Clearly, the impact of that on our community would be rather significant, particularly for those who have unreliable transportation,” said Rocky Mount Mayor Sandy Roberson.

The report found that implementing city-run rideshares could cost more than $24.4 million over a seven-year span.

“We have a number of areas within the city that have a low ridership,” Roberson said. “That creation of microtransit zones would be more appropriate.”

Last fall, city leaders began consideration of swapping out their fleet of buses for regular cars to implement a city-run rideshare service like Uber or Lyft.

“We still have quite a bit of funding available for projects such as this, if we deem or the council deems this is something they would consider a priority,” Roberson said.

Potential funding includes applying for federal grant money or using remaining money from the American Rescue Plan.

Roberson said the city hasn’t committed to establish the rideshares yet. The next steps would be designing a system and determining how to pay for it.

However, the study found Rocky Mount’s central bus routes are heavily used. The routes that go farther into the county are lagging behind.

In 2020, the city of Wilson replaced all of its buses with rideshares. Wilson leaders told WRAL News they’re seeing three times as many riders as before.

Some people in the community support Rocky Mount’s push to add a city-run rideshare, including resident Bronson Williams.

“When you’re able to put a transportation opportunity right at the doorstep of an individual, it’s way better than having to walk out in the rain and this that or the other to get to a bus stop,” Williams said. “So, I really do think it’s going to be beneficial.”

The report showed 20% of Rocky Mount bus riders live in poverty. It also shows 19% are older than 65 years old and 19% live with disabilities.