Westport Transit District Unveils 'Wheels2U' Improvements

Press release from the Town of Westport:

WESTPORT, CT — The Westport Transit District is proud to announce that Wheels2U, Westport’s popular on-demand transit program, has unveiled new upgrades to create a more efficient and comfortable rider experience.

Westport Transit District’s Wheels2U program provides $2 shared rides between the Westport and Greens Farms train stations and any Westport address.

Wheels2U has provided more than 88,000 rides since October 2020. Riders can book through the Wheels2U app (available in the App Store and Google Play) or by calling 203-852-0000.

What’s changing?

• More comfortable vehicles: The new fleet consists of minivans (many of which are wheelchair accessible), which will provide a smoother, quieter ride than Wheels2U’s previous vehicles.
• A “greener” ride: The new vehicles are significantly more fuel-efficient, reinforcing Westport’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions.
• Longer hours: Riders will benefit from expanded morning service hours, with service running from 5:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. (versus until 10:00 a.m.) and 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on weekdays.
• Improved booking. You’ll be able to request your ride starting at 5:30 a.m. for a pickup as early as 5:45 a.m. and as early as 3:45 p.m. for a 4:00 p.m. pickup so riders can get going more quickly in the morning and afternoon. Riders can also request a ride as late as 10:30 a.m. or 9:30 p.m. to catch the last ride back.

Karina Betfarhad, a Director of the Westport Transit District, said “Wheels2U has gained popularity with the Westport community in recent years for its convenience and affordability. These improvements to Wheels2U underscore the Westport Transit District’s commitment to continually improving the service and providing accessibility and mobility for people of all ages and abilities who live, work, and visit Westport.”

The improvements result from the Westport Transit District’s decision to expand its existing partnership with Via, a leader in public mobility transit systems, to include a new operations function, in addition to using its booking and routing software. Via’s intelligent algorithms match riders headed in the same direction into one vehicle, creating quick and efficient trips that provide more flexibility than traditional public transit methods, which run on fixed routes and schedules.

This press release was produced by the Town of Westport. The views expressed here are the author’s own.