UK council boosts sustainable travel with on-demand service
Essex County Council is launching a digital demand responsive transport service to allow users to plan shared transport journeys with real-time arrival information, which can be booked via the TravelEssex app.
Essex County Council is launching two mobility solutions to help locals travel more sustainably and conveniently.
A digital demand responsive transport service called DigiGo will allow users to plan shared transport journeys with real-time arrival information.
The DigiGo service is booked via the TravelEssex app, a free-to-use travel planning app that aims to make it easier for users to view all sustainable travel modes across Essex and plan multimodal journeys. It was created in partnership with mobility-as-a-service solutions provider Moovit.
Rural and suburban areas
The DigiGo service will initially operate within two rural and suburban areas of Essex to provide a more flexible public transport service with shortened wait and walk times. The service will provide easier connection to Essex’s transport interchanges, such as bus and train stations, for onward travel.
Funded by the Department for Transport’s Rural Mobility Fund, the DigiGo services will run for a two-year period, with the learning and development used to inform any potential future roll-out of the service to other areas of Essex or the UK. The service will operate between 7am and 10pm, seven days a week (excluding bank holidays).
“We want to see more people travelling sustainably and thinking differently about how they travel, particularly for shorter journeys”
DigiGo journeys can be booked and paid for through the TravelEssex app. Users can view real-time arrival information and track the vehicle along its route. The service will connect to various points of interest as well as other transport hubs to improve onward travel opportunities.
The app will suggest the most efficient routes, enable users to book and pay for DigiGo journeys, direct passengers to a nearby pick-up location, provide passengers with real-time tracking and allow them to book rides up to a week in advance.
“Working with Moovit over this two-year period, the trial is aiming to provide a service which becomes embedded into local communities, attracting users of all ages and creates a platform to be rolled out into other parts of the county.”
Councillor Frankie Ricci, cabinet member for communities at Braintree District Council, added: “This is an innovative service which will connect people to our business parks, town centre and hospitals as well as surrounding villages.
“Working with Moovit over this two-year period, the trial is aiming to provide a service which becomes embedded into local communities, attracting users of all ages and creates a platform to be rolled out into other parts of the county”
“The new routes will improve transport options for residents and support the growth of local businesses as well as revolutionise the way people get around. It will also help reduce the number of cars on our roads easing congestion and reducing emissions. This is really positive news for residents and businesses in our district.”
The TravelEssex app is powered by Moovit’s white label app solution, and the DigiGo service is powered by Moovit’s On-Demand solution. Moovit is an Intel company.
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