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Bay Area’s New $2.50 On-Demand Shuttle Launches

Milpitas SMART, an app-based service, provides an affordable on-demand shuttle to four hubs
By - posted 9/15/2022 No Comment

Milpitas residents have another transportation option designed to fill some of the gaps not served by public transit. Milpitas SMART will provide convenient, affordable, and on-demand connections to the Great Mall, City Hall, Milpitas Transit Center and VTA light rail stops.

The new service — Simple Mobile Access to Reliable Transportation, or SMART — is an app-based service that allows riders to make connections in areas not served by public transit. Minivans will be available on demand to take riders to four hubs — at the Great Mall, City Hall, Milpitas Transit Center and Alder Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority light rail station — where they can then take public transit.

The cost per ride is $2.50 for adults and $1 for youth, disabled and low-income populations. Service is available weekdays from 7 a.m.-7 p.m, with maximum wait times between 10 and 15 minutes. The minivans have handicap access. The service is made possible by a more than $1 million grant from VTA to the city of Milpitas.

Milpitas SMART will offer an affordable service to Milpitas’ commuters, including those not conveniently served today by transit, and the significant vulnerable/transit-dependent population by supporting and complementing the Milpitas BART Station and VTA’s existing bus and rail services. The program will combine the convenience of a ride-hailing service like Uber or Lyft with the capacity and affordability of a more traditional shuttle or vanpool service. Riders will be able to request service through a mobile app and be picked up at one of many virtual locations throughout Milpitas and dropped off at one of four hubs, and vice versa. The local business community will benefit from the Milpitas OnDemand service as first mile/last mile connectivity is important to and from the Milpitas Transit Center and is a high priority for local employers.

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