Article Title
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Southern Delaware’s On-Demand Transportation Service
- Introduction
- Background Information
- Expansion of Public Transportation in Underserved Areas
- DART Connect Pilot Program
- Success in Sussex County
- Increase in Ridership
- Replacement of Unicity Transit Bus Service
- Limitations of Unicity Service
- Benefits of the New On-Demand Service
- Features of DART Connect
- No Fixed Schedule or Bus Stops
- Reduced Wait Times
- Connection to Standing Bus Stops
- Operating Hours: Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Use of Smaller Buses in Communities with Narrower Streets
- Affordability of the Service
- Fare Structure
- Anticipated Daily Ridership
- Potential Expansion to Other Cities
1. Introduction
With Southern Delaware’s success in the DART Connect Pilot program, the city of Newark has incorporated an on-demand transportation service to make traveling more accessible and affordable for residents.
“We continue to look for opportunities to expand public transportation to underserved areas of the state,” said Nicole Majeski, secretary of the Delaware Department of Transportation. “We hope this program will continue to serve as a model that we can implement in other areas of our state going forward.”
2. DART Connect Pilot Program
DART Connect’s pilot program debuted in Sussex County in both the towns of Georgetown and Millsboro back in April 2021.
Albert Loyola, the deputy customer experience officer at DART, says since that launch, more people have started riding in those particular areas.
3. Replacement of Unicity Transit Bus Service
He claims that due to its large loop and focus on seniors, the service creates limitations for other residents.
“That service, unfortunately, has never gotten great ridership, mostly because the schedule can be a little bit problematic for the reason that, once you take the bus…, it takes a long time for that bus to come back,” he said. So it’s just one large loop. [You have to wait] for the bus to go all the way around to come back.”
With the new service, that has changed. Riders can schedule a ride within the city by calling 1-800-652-DART, option 3, or downloading the DART Connect app, and a bus will be provided within minutes.
“The city would benefit from this type of service that instead of just running around in a loop, it would go anywhere within the zone and on demand,” he added. “We have the university there. You still have the senior living facilities and the student body that would benefit from such a service.”
4. Features of DART Connect
- No fixed schedule or bus stops.
- Reduced wait times.
- Connection to standing bus stops.
- Operation Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
5. Use of Smaller Buses in Communities with Narrower Streets
To drive through communities with narrower streets, larger transit buses would shift to a smaller bus that seats approximately 11 riders.
“The convenience of it is that it can get closer to people’s homes,” Loyola said. “Most of the time they can get you within 100 feet of where you’re calling from.”
6. Affordability of the Service
What may be discouraging is that, although the Unicity bus service was free, the new transportation service does have a cost but remains affordable.
“It’s only $2, if you’re a normal rider. It is only $0.80, if you have a reduced fare customer,” said Loyola. “If you’re a student, it’s only $1.”
DART anticipates 150 to 200 riders each day based on its experience in southern Delaware and expects a similar outcome in Newark. Officials will monitor the bus system, and if everything goes well, they hope to expand into additional cities.
Milford, Middletown, and Dover are among the cities being considered for growth.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
The article discusses the implementation of an on-demand transportation service in Newark, Delaware, to make traveling more accessible and affordable for residents. This aligns with SDG 11, which aims to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 11.2: By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems for all.
The article highlights the goal of providing accessible and affordable transportation for residents in Newark through the implementation of the on-demand service. This aligns with Target 11.2, which focuses on ensuring access to sustainable transport systems.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Number of rides taken through the on-demand transportation service.
- Cost of the transportation service for different types of riders (normal, reduced fare, student).
- Number of riders per day.
The article mentions that since the launch of the pilot program in Sussex County, there have been 43,861 rides taken through the on-demand transportation service. This indicates the usage and accessibility of the service, which can be used as an indicator to measure progress towards Target 11.2. Additionally, the article mentions the cost of the transportation service for different types of riders and anticipates 150 to 200 riders per day, which can also be used as indicators to measure progress.
4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | Target 11.2: By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems for all. |
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Source: whyy.org
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