NORCROSS, Ga. — Thousands of people in Gwinnett County will soon have a new to get around town with a new pilot program that will be launched at the end of the summer.
The Southwest Gwinnett Microtransit Pilot is a combined effort between Gwinnett, Norcross and the Gateway 85 Community Improvement District that targets about 36,000 residents in Norcross. According to officials, the area has socioeconomic disparities where more than half of household incomes fall below 60% of the area median income.
It will be an easily accessible and affordable option for riders like Ollice Priester.
“I will use it especially if I have to go to QuikTrip or Kroger. I think it will be good because it will help speed up your commute,” Priester said.
Riders will be able to request rides through an app Monday through Saturday, for 14 hours each day.
Priester has been using public transit for about six years and hopes the pilot program will help more people.
“I’m wondering if there’s going to be services further back in the residential areas because not a lot of bigger buses can fit back there,” Priester said.
Some of the people who use public transit in Gwinnett County said there’s a great need for the program because it will help fill some of the gaps in services that are currently offered.
“Most people and a lot of my friends use Uber and Lyft so it would be great to now do it through the Gwinnett County’s Transit and for it to be super cheap,” said Skyann Collins.
The cost of the program is about $1.3 million and is expected to roll out in September.