Moderator(s): John Habermann, Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI)

Session Description
As transportation needs evolve, agencies are exploring new ways to deliver more flexible, efficient, and responsive services. This session highlights the role of microtransit and micromobility in expanding transportation networks and improving access in urban and underserved areas.

Attendees will gain practical insight into how to evaluate and implement microtransit services using tools like GIS-based suitability analysis. Presenters will share case studies and lessons learned from national research, highlighting how agencies can strategically plan and integrate microtransit to complement fixed-route transit. The session also explores the intersection of microtransit and emerging technologies.

With an eye on smart city applications, presenters will discuss how data analytics, machine learning, and IoT can enable seamless coordination between microtransit and traditional transit modes. Finally, participants will be introduced to a new NCHRP guide and decision-support tool that helps agencies evaluate the long-term viability of fare-free transit programs, considering financial and operational impacts.

Together, these presentations offer a forward-looking toolkit for agencies navigating the future of public transportation in a post-pandemic world—where flexibility, technology, and community are central to service planning and delivery.