Local Microtransit Service Sees Early Success

A new microtransit program funded by the North Carolina Department of Transportation is experiencing strong ridership across its service area; signaling early success for an on-demand public transit service only five months old.

[Above photo by McDowell Express]

In 2024, NCDOT received a $10.4 million discretionary federal grant to help rural transit agencies expand public microtransit services. That one grant supports 11 mostly rural communities by funding software, operations, and capital investments for local microtransit services. NCDOT noted that “microtransit” is a form of public transportation that operates based on rider request rather than a fixed schedule, allowing for more flexible and efficient travel. The new service – named McDowell Express and operated by McDowell County Transit – has provided more than 1,900 rides since it began operations on May 1; experiencing steady month-over-month growth in ridership as it works to connect rural communities with jobs, healthcare, education, and more.

“McDowell’s microtransit success is part of our ongoing efforts to work with local communities to improve mobility,” said Brennon Fuqua, director of NCDOT’s Integrated Mobility Division, in a statement. “NCDOT is committed to ensuring that local public transit options meet the needs of residents, especially in rural areas.”

The McDowell Express on-demand transit service operates Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; primarily serving residents and visitors within a seven-mile radius around the town of Marion, NC, in McDowell County.

“[We are] extremely proud of the success of McDowell Express [as] ridership has far exceeded our expectations,” added Jason Hollifield, director of McDowell Transit. “We are happy to provide a new, much-needed transportation option to our citizens. We are appreciative of the support of our local government, NCDOT, and the federal grant that made it all possible.”