Moncton, NB, May 27, 2024 at 11:00 am at the Southeast Regional Service Commission, 70 Enviro Drive.
Hon. Réjean Savoie Minister of the Regional Development Corporation of New Brunswick announced four years of funding for Urban/Rural Rides – Transport Urbain/Rural Inc. to roll out on-demand transit software with Blaise Transit, making it easier to book transit trips across the province.
To establish more commonality and connection between regions, and increase efficiencies, the idea of a common dispatch platform was born at a transportation symposium held by the Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation of New Brunswick in March 2023. After much discussion, Urban/Rural Rides – a Moncton-based charitable organization that has been delivering door-to-door volunteer drive programs across the Province for 25 years – offered to spearhead the project. "We recognize that transportation, particularly in rural regions of the province, is important to enhance the quality of life for residents,” said Minister Savoie. “That is why we are pleased to support Urban/Rural Rides to provide a common dispatch platform to all 12 Regional Service Commissions to implement a province-wide volunteer driver program.”
Following a competitive process, Urban/Rural Rides selected Blaise Transit to provide a provincial dispatch platform for the Regional Service Commissions to manage trips in their service area, a driver app to give drivers step by step directions to pick up and drop off passengers, and a passenger app for riders to book their trips and see their ride arrive in real-time – all backed by a routing algorithm that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to improve trip results.
“We were looking for a partnership with a company that could not only provide what we needed in a platform and understood our highly rural needs regarding transportation. The committee spent many hours reviewing and evaluating the proposals. In the end, the choice was unanimous, and we could not be more pleased to be embarking on this journey with Blaise Transit. We are all very excited about the platform and the efficiencies it will provide for the staff, the volunteers, and the riders, as well as the increased opportunities to work in cooperation with other regions. Volunteer drivers help people in their local community, while also being a part of a provincial movement to help the most vulnerable in our communities—seniors, low-income families, and people with moderate disabilities—access essential life needs like medical services” said Kelly Taylor, Executive Director of Urban/RuralRides.
Launching in batches, the rollout of the platform to all 12 Regional Service Commissions is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024. Blaise Transit will be building from their experience rolling their technology out to 24 municipalities part of the Nova Scotia’s Community Transportation Network, as well as 40 other municipalities across Canada and the US.
Blaise Transit’s CEO, Justin Hunt, says “We’re excited to be part of this project to help bring innovative technology to the province’s Regional Service Commissions, helping make travel more efficient and easier to book across the province. The impact we can have by working with organizations such as Urban/Rural Rides is exactly why we started the company 6 years ago – to help ensure safe, accessible, and high-quality transportation for all.”
This project is part of the Government’s goal to increase accessibility to transit by offering an easy way for passengers to schedule and book, by improving ride-matching and routing efficiency through AI, and by collecting data on New Brunswickers’ travel patterns.
We know most transit agencies are constantly striving to enhance their rider’s experience. However, amidst the excitement of offering new technology to passengers the crucial aspect of communication often gets overlooked. On-demand transit represents a paradigm shift in traditional transit models, with its tech-driven approach requiring active participation from riders. Yet, many riders may be unfamiliar with this concept, especially if it's the first time it's being introduced in their community. The introduction of new technology adds another layer of complexity, necessitating effective change management.
Earlier this year, Blaise Transit began a new partnership with the Klamath Tribes in Southwestern Oregon. This collaboration marked a significant milestone in providing innovative, on-demand transit solutions to the Chiloquin and Klamath Falls regions, further underscoring the critical need for accessible and efficient transportation in the 574 tribal communities across the United States.
As Women's History Month draws to a close, it's an opportune time to reflect on the invaluable contributions of women leaders in various industries, including transit technology. At Blaise Transit, we are proud to celebrate the remarkable achievements of women who are shaping the landscape of transit technology in North America.
