After hearing from local employers that transit connections to the commuter rail would help them recruit workers, the City of Gloucester, the Gloucester Economic Development and Industrial Corporation (EDIC), and the Cape Ann Transportation Authority (CATA) collaborated on a solution, and the resulting pilot service launched April 20. CATA On Demand provides on-demand microtransit service to a section of Gloucester that includes the City’s two commuter rail stations, industrial parks, a hospital, and other major employers. Funded through a MassDOT Workforce Transportation grant, the pilot seeks to assist employees in connecting from the commuter rail to employer sites in order to encourage people who live in commuter rail communities like Beverly, Salem, or Boston to apply for jobs in Gloucester. Anyone traveling within the service zone can ride CATA On Demand.
To ride, riders first download the CATA On Demand app and set up an account, and then they can summon a ride anytime during operating hours – no need to reserve in advance. Riders who use wheelchairs can request a wheelchair-accessible vehicle through the app. After requesting a ride, the app tells the rider where to meet their driver. In developing the pilot, CATA recommended using a microtransit approach so that the new service could be flexible to meet a range of shift schedules at different employers and easily adapt to any changes in the commuter rail schedule. CATA issued an RFP for an operator, and out of the five responses they received, they selected Via.
Early response from the community has been positive, with ridership growing, new people continuing to download the app, and residents already asking for the service to expand. CATA is following up with local employers to offer sponsorship opportunities, where employers contribute to the pilot in exchange for advertising or free rides for their employees. CATA has funding to operate the pilot for a year and hopes to continue it after that as well: “While the fixed route is the backbone of the system, it could be nice - in both our lower density areas and higher density areas - for on-demand options to supplement our service,” says CATA Administrator Felicia Webb.
