By María Marta Guzmán, WBIR
More people across Knoxville may soon be able to access transportation services through the city’s transit system — even if they don’t live near a major service line.
Knoxville Area Transit said it is working on a new “micro-transit service” that aims to help people access transportation. Through the service, more people will be able to access jobs and get to needed appointments regardless of where they live and whether they have cars.
“This is going to be a huge lifeline for those people to be able to get to jobs,” said Isaac Thorne, Director of Transit for KAT .
The service comes after faith leaders and advocates pushed for equality in transportation. Justice Knox is a group of East Tennessee faith leaders who meet annually to lay out their advocacy priorities. For a few years, transportation equality has been on its list of priorities.
“This will be so helpful for single moms that need to get to work,” said Ann O’Connor, Vice President of Justice Knox. “Even to teenagers and young adults who want to get a job.”
The Knoxville Area Transit micro-transit system operates through an app, allowing people to log in and book a ride. Through the app, people can set a pick-up location and a drop-off location along a major service route. People can schedule trips in advance and when the time comes, a KAT lift van arrives to bring people to their destination.
“We can target very, very small areas and provide some transit service to them, and get them into the bus network,” said Thorne. “The areas we’re looking at, these individuals do not have any transportation options, outside of if they have to own a vehicle.”
KAT said the program initially is running as a pilot program for a year, with the opportunity to expand as time goes on. Large cities like Memphis and Nashville already have similar programs in place. Memphis’ system launched in 2021, and Nashville’s launched in 2022.
“Micro-transit is the only way that a fixed route bus system can work in a sprawling city like ours,” said O’Connor.
KAT said it plans to serve around 8,000 trips per year through the micro-transit system or around 21 rides per day.
The service is expected to launch in August. In May, Justice Knox and city leaders are expected to meet with KAT to decide which specific neighborhoods the program will serve.
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