Stamford has $2.5M to create a way to get around the city that’s not a train or bus

STAMFORD — Stamford has received about $2.52 million to build a new transportation program which officials say could help some residents reach places not covered by bus and train routes.

With money from the Connecticut Department of Transportation, Stamford is is looking to develop a “microtransit service” — an on-demand transportation service similar to ridesharing apps like Uber and Lyft — allowing residents to request and schedule rides to specific locations in a five-mile boundary within the city.

The program, in particular, will expand access to public transportation for residents of the West Side, Downtown Stamford, South End and East Side neighborhoods, said Frank Petise, who heads the city’s Transportation, Traffic and Parking Department.

“With these funds, we’re supporting the economic health of these residents and creating new opportunities for them to get around Stamford,” Petise said in a statement. “We look forward to working with the community on implementing this program in Stamford to make it work for the people of the city.”

Several other cities in the state already have microtransit programs, including Norwalk.

Norwalk’s public transportation provider operates Wheels2U within much of the city’s central area on Thursday and Friday evenings, as well as much of Saturday and Sunday. Rides cost $2 for one person and $6 for a group ride of 3-8 people, according to the program’s website. Residents request rides through a phone app, which tells users how close shuttles are and the estimated time of pick-up and drop-off.

Stamford will be taking the winter to start building out its own program, Transportation Planner Luke Buttenwieser said. He and Petise said the pilot program could look similar to Wheels2U, but it would be more expansive.

Additionally, while Norwalk’s program has historically used shuttle buses, Petise said Stamford will likely have a fleet of smaller vehicles.

Many details have yet to be worked out in Stamford, Buttenwieser said. He added that community engagement will be an important part of the project.

Once the pilot program is fleshed out, though, city officials said they believe it could be a major help for residents in the targeted neighborhoods.

About 64,200 residents live in the proposed five-mile service area, Buttenwieser said. Of those people, 15 percent are living in poverty, 9 percent are disabled and 65 percent have access to one car or no motor vehicle at all. About 69 percent of the residents are people of color or identify as Hispanic.

“This service area is incredibly diverse, but also historically marginalized and under-resourced,” Buttenwieser said in an email. “The proposed microtransit service will expand mobility options for individuals living in these neighborhoods and support them in reaching critical destinations such as transit hubs, places of work, grocery stores and health facilities, among other locations.”