START eyes new microtransit service in East Jackson
Downtowner LLC tapped as provider
JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — START Board has selected firm Downtowner, LLC as its preferred vendor for its new Microtransit service. This service will provide fare free, on-demand transportation using smaller vehicles between the western boundary of Karns Meadow and the town’s eastern limits.
Riders will be able to schedule service through an app from their location to any destination in East Jackson including to START’s transit hub for connection to commuter and local and Teton Village routes.
Microtransit service will replace the circulator routes in East Jackson, taking numerous large vehicles off small, neighborhood streets, and implementing a key element of START’s broader route plan. This plan identified Microtransit as a solution to two needs:
- For fixed routes to operate more efficiently
- For better service in the dispersed areas of East Jackson.
Microtransit should solve both, and Downtowner is an ideal provider. Downtowner impressed the Selection Review Committee with its approach to vehicle-use and driver recruitment and retention as well as their experience in other resort communities including Aspen and North Lake Tahoe. The route plan also identified the many benefits and increased ridership that occurs with fare free transit options and START is excited to offer Microtransit entirely free of charge.
START will enter contract discussions with Downtowner immediately and anticipates service, including on-demand Microtransit system managed through a rider reservation app, will begin on November 27, 2021. Prior to launching this service, START will hold community outreach and educations sessions to help people learn how to utilize the rider reservation app and Microtransit overall.
