Promoting Sustainable Transportation: Electric Micro-Shuttle Services in Long Island
Communities in the Rockaways and Suffolk County are disproportionately impacted by the negative effects of climate change and air pollution and are underserved by transit, creating barriers to opportunity. Circuit and its team proposes an electric micro-shuttle service available for on-demand trips to bridge first/last mile gaps affordably and conveniently. Circuit's cost-effective model aligns with how residents want to get around with the quality control of public transit. Our data-driven solution and technology suite with context from community surveys will enable us to measure success according to several criteria: ridership, performance, cost-effectiveness, community benefit, reduction in vehicle miles travelled, and reduction in tailpipe and greenhouse gas emissions. By providing convenient, affordable connections for short trips, we are enabling residents to access more jobs, opportunities for advancement and learning, and local services. Using an all-electric fleet, we will increase exposure and education about electric vehicles while promoting sustainable transportation.
Given the combined problems of transportation-related emissions and lack of transit access with their effects on community health, along with the insights that a majority of trips are under 3 miles, our strategy focuses on providing fare-free shared rides in EVs for first/last mile trips.
Circuit will operate a turnkey micro-shuttle service using battery electric vehicles. Riders can request fare-free on-demand rides within the coverage area and hours of operation we developed with community partners. Riders can request free rides using our mobile app, by phone, or waving down a car. We own our proprietary technology platform, which enables us to customize service and reporting during planning and implementation. Our program can launch within 90-100 days of contract execution, and provide up to 2.75 years of service.
The impact will be greater within the 11 disadvantaged communities (DACs) in the Rockaways and Central Suffolk. The coverage areas, hours of operation, and key features will be designed according to local needs and feedback. Upon service launch, access to jobs, educational opportunities, transit, community resources, local businesses, and community destinations will be immediately increased. Over the long-term, it will reduce the key contributors to local air pollution, improve public health, and foster behavior changes towards sustainable modes and higher transit ridership.
We measure success according to key performance indicators (KPIs), including ridership, cost per rider, average wait times, rider ratings, driver retention, reduction in vehicle miles traveled (VMTs), and reduction in greenhouse gasses (GHGs). We will work with the communities to identify and measure local indicators of success.