Transportation agency launches Go RANDOLPH on-demand rideshare service

ASHEBORO — A new on-demand rideshare service has hit the road.

Regional Coordinated Area Transportation System (RCATS) launched its pilot program for Go RANDOLPH on Oct. 1. It lets people request a same-day ride using a mobile app, website or over the phone.

Representatives from the City of Asheboro, Randolph County and the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) gathered for a ribbon cutting at Randolph Senior Adults Association on West Salisbury Street to see the shuttles that will take requests on the same day. The QR code to the app and the phone number were emblazoned across the sides.

According to RCATS Transportation Director Tawanna Williams, this significantly shortens the amount of time someone without reliable transportation must plan to go anywhere. RCATS’ other services required scheduling at least three days in advance.

“Our goal is to tear down the transportation barriers within Randolph County,” Williams said.

RCATS offers curb-to-curb transportation services in Randolph and Montgomery County, particularly for older adults, people with disabilities and human service agencies. The Go RANDOLPH shuttles, like most of RCATS’ other vehicles, have wheelchair lifts or ramps.

Each ride costs a flat rate of $6.

Hours to schedule a ride are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an escort.

The pilot zone runs from Vision Drive to Kivett Street, with stops including Lydia’s Place, Our Daily Bread, Downtown Asheboro, Asheboro Mall and Walmart.

“It helps the people to maintain their independence,” Williams said. “To be able to get to work, be able to get out and go shopping, be able to get their groceries, to take care of their family, all those things that, right now, they have to schedule in advance to do.”

She said they will track the need and the areas of interest before they decide when and where to expand the program.

The same-day transit is part of RCATS’ community connectivity plan. Funding came from NCDOT and the Asheboro budget.

Asheboro City Manager Donald Duncan talked about why they felt Go RANDOLPH was an important priority. “This project alone will also assist all of the nonprofits,” he said. “This is here to help everybody, whether you’re Lydia’s Place, or any other of the folks that we support in the city.”

David Rhew, executive director of the NC Public Transit Association, thanked Williams for her leadership and all the agencies that contributed. “It takes a partnership, a collaboration, to make something like this happen,” he said. “You got to keep pushing and pushing, and that’s what you all do in Asheboro. You push for access for all the people in your community. On behalf of our association, I’m grateful for that.”

RCATS will also test Go RANDOLPH during the Mountains to Coast Ride’s overnight stop in Asheboro. On Oct. 7, the organization extended the shuttle routes down to the YMCA to serve approximately 1,000 cyclists riding from mountains to Fort Fisher, so they can request rides to downtown Asheboro.

More information about scheduling rides can be found on the website rcats.org. The Go RANDOLPH-RCATS app is available in the Apple and Google Play store.