Auburn to begin on-demand bus service Monday

Starting Monday, residents will be able to use public transportation in Auburn to get exactly where they want to go, when they want to go. Auburn On-Demand is a city-provided ride-share service, and it works much the way an Uber or Lyft would. Customers are asked to download an app to their smartphones, and they can set a pickup location and destination. One of the city's electric busses would then pick up the rider and drop them off at their desired destination. Transit Manager Rachel Wells said she is excited to provide this service because it is also allowing transit to occur past 6 p.m., when Auburn Transit has historically ended the day's transportation. The Auburn On-Demand Bus Service will be available from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. "The customers that ride the bus are excited to go somewhere past the route hours," Wells said. For some customers, it opens the opportunity for additional work shifts or allows them to attend evening meetings, Wells said. It gives others the opportunity to go out to dinner, catch a movie or go shopping and not have to drive home in the dark. "We are giving more people options to go out," Wells said. "We want to increase ridership and make it more convenient for people." The requirements to ride are that either drop-off or pick-up be within the Auburn city limits. Wells has worked with the app company to provide ride opportunities along the popular shopping and medical-related spots along Highway 49 that might not be in the city proper. Ride fares are set once the customer selects the type of customer they are – general, senior, disabled, etc. Fares range from $3.50 for general to $1.75 for senior use disabled. "Before you order the ride, you have to select the right category to be charged the correct fair," Wells said. While most customers will use the app or a computer to request rides, Wells will be acting as dispatch for the service to make sure it is accessible to as many customers as possible. Dispatch is available 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The city of Auburn is not getting rid of its typical Auburn bus route. The Auburn Loop route will run 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Wells did say the city is "hurting" for additional bus drivers. "We are trying to deal with what we have," she said. "I am making it work, but it is difficult." For more information on the city's new on-demand service, visit auburn.ca.gov/586/Auburn-On-Demand-Service.