A County-Wide Transformation of Demand-Response Service into Microtransit, Baldwin County, Alabama

In 2020, the Baldwin Regional Area Transit System (BRATS) in Baldwin County, Alabama partnered with Via to transition its demand-responsive transit service to an on-demand microtransit service through an Integrated Mobility Innovation (IMI) grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Through this pilot project, BRATS intended to increase efficiency of its public transit service, reduce passenger wait times, improve reliability, and enhance transit access for all residents of Baldwin County. 

BRATS collects and analyzes a large amount of data to evaluate the microtransit service, and works closely with Via to improve Via’s own data collection methods. The new platform brought major improvements in ridership, rider experience, efficiency, flexibility, and service for Baldwin County residents.