The Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA), a member of NEORide, an Ohio-based organization that develops mobility solutions in the US, partnered with Via, the developer of mobility platform Transit Tech, to launch “TARTA Flex,” an on-demand public transit service app. 

The new solution, powered by Via’s proprietary algorithms, which match multiple riders traveling in the same direction onto a single vehicle, intends to fill in "transit deserts" by offering coverage in regions that are not served by TARTA's 30 fixed-route lines. The service will be available in Rossford and Lucas County, Ohio, and TARTA Flex will also offer a special service for paratransit and senior users.

In addition, NEORide announced that it intends to use the Via system for its upcoming project EZConnect, a collaborative scheduling, dispatching, and customer service.

The partnership builds on Via's agreement with NEORide, which was signed in November 2022. That agreement permits NEORide members to incorporate Via's TransitTech solutions into their public transportation networks without going through a separate, structured request for proposals (RFP) procedure. Additionally, members gain from NEORide's strategic management options, collective purchasing power, and cooperative partnerships.

Analyst QuickTake: Via’s partnership with NEORide gives it access to more than 20 transportation agencies, including those in Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, West Virginia, and Arkansas, providing it with further opportunities to expand its market position and geographical presence in the US.