Microtransit vs Buses: Cost, Equity, and the Future of Transit

This comprehensive analysis, "Microtransit vs Fixed-Route Buses: Cost-Effectiveness and Equity in Rock Island County and Beyond," thoroughly examines the viability of microtransit—on-demand, app-dispatched van services—as an alternative or supplement to traditional fixed-route bus systems. The central argument is that while microtransit offers flexibility, it is significantly more expensive per passenger and often fails to deliver on promises of equity, frequently serving more affluent, tech-savvy riders rather than the most transit-dependent populations. The report uses real-world case studies and data from various U.S. cities, including those comparable to Rock Island County, to demonstrate that fixed-route buses remain the more cost-effective, reliable, and equitable backbone of public transit, leading many agencies to reassess or even revert from microtransit experiments due to concerns over budget, service quality, and labor impacts.