Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority riders who use paratransit services could soon spend less time waiting on the phone and have more options when RTA vehicles are booked.
The CCRTA board is considering a three-year contract for Spare, a paratransit scheduling system that the agency already uses through a third-party provider.
David Chapa, CCRTA’s director of MIS and capital projects, said moving to a direct contract would give the agency better access to its data while lowering costs.
The system is designed for riders who use on-demand paratransit services for trips such as going to a doctor’s appointment or the store.
One of the biggest changes involves what happens when CCRTA’s smaller paratransit vehicles are already booked. Chapa said those vehicles would remain the primary option, but the system can use Uber or Lyft to help complete trips when needed. “The Uber and the Lyft element is only to make sure that if it’s full or all booked, then we use those types of services,” Chapa said.
Chapa said the goal is to reduce the number of trips that cannot be accommodated due to RTA vehicles already being booked.
The technology also includes an AI-powered phone system that can help riders schedule a trip without waiting for an employee to answer. Riders who have trouble using the automated system would still be able to speak with a person.
“They will still have an operator or a human element that could help them still schedule their trip,” Chapa said. Riders would also be able to track their scheduled vehicle and see when it is approaching their home.
Chapa said the goal over the three-year contract is simple: make the service faster and easier to use. “Efficiency, making everything a lot quicker for the customer, less waiting time on the phone,” Chapa said.
The contract is among the items the CCRTA board is considering on Wednesday.