The Beaver County Transit Authority (BCTA) Board of Directors approved a new and expanded transportation service (BCTA Connect) for the community of Midland at the February 27, 2024 Board meeting.
For well over a year, BCTA management met with riders, community leaders, employers, human service agencies and other stakeholders to determine BCTA’s future vision. Midland became an extremely high priority.
The community of 2,661 residents remains isolated from any urban center. There is no grocery store, doctors’ offices, or banks. According to the most recent U.S. Census, 30.8% of the population is below poverty level, 20.2% are elderly, 20.8% are disabled, and 14% have no access to an automobile. The unemployment rate is 10.9%.
While BCTA’s shared ride (Shared) service offers transportation 3 days per week, options remain limited. BCTA’s goal is to improve access to jobs, basic goods, and services available in more of the urban riverbed communities in Beaver County. After a lengthy planning process, BCTA determined that the most appropriate service for the community is same-day, on-demand service often referred to as “microtransit“. This service is rapidly gaining popularity in the public transit industry as it offers more customized and convenient transportation, similar to the models of Uber and Lyft.
A rider uses a mobile app to schedule their trip or they may call BCTA customer service directly to schedule an on-demand, same-day trip. A high roof, accessible van equipped with cameras is slated to operate a curb to curb service in a community where fixed route service is not viable and not nearly as convenient.
BCTA’s plan calls for a destination zone in Calcutta, Ohio where employment, medical facilities, restaurants, fast food, grocery stores, recreation and educational opportunities are readily available in a concentrated area along 170 in Calcutta. BCTA has been working with the Columbia Area Rural Transit System (CARTS) whereby Midland microtransit riders can utilize the CARTS shuttle bus to gain additional access to medical and other destinations in East Liverpool for a $1.00 fare. Nearly 50 destinations are in the microtransit zone in an area 1.5 miles in length nort to south and 3/4 mile west off Route 170 reaching the Heritage Valley Health System to the North and the Walmart Super Center to the South.
A one-way fare will be in the range $2.00-$3.00 with discounts for children. Service will be available Monday – Friday during the hours of 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM. If successful, service will expand to 12 hours a day from 6:30 AM – 6:30 PM, affording even more opportunities for employment.
BCTA’s marketing efforts will include extensive outreach and travel training. BCTA will partner with “The Center” in Midland and utilize a variety of social media channels to inform and educate residents about the new services.
The six month “pilot” is expected to begin in late Summer or early Fall 2024. It will be called BCTA “Connect”. Mary Jo Morandini, BCTA General Manager, stated: “BCTA is proud to being a new era in public transportation in Beaver County; one with more customized service and connectivity within our Beaver County communities. There is more to come in BCTA’s long-term plan. In the meantime, we hope the residents of Midland utilize same-day, on-demand service to enhance accessibility and their quality of life”.
The BCTA Connect pilot is part of our Transit Development Plan. To learn more about the TDP and our rebranding, click here.
