Eastern Wake Microtransit Operations

The Town of Wendell, together with the neighboring towns of Knightdale and Zebulon and Wake County, is seeking a qualified firm to design, launch, and operate a turnkey on‑demand microtransit service for Eastern Wake County. The contractor must provide all labor, vehicles, technology platforms, fare‑collection capability (if later adopted), branding, data reporting, and ongoing operational management beginning July 1 2027. Proposals must include a base‑case service model (≈23,000 rides/11,000 operating hours per year) and an optional expanded “alternative” case not to exceed a total budget of $1.3 million. The effort replaces the existing SmartRide NE service and must comply with the Community Funding Area program and Wake Transit guidelines. • Service area: Towns of Wendell, Knightdale, Zebulon and surrounding unincorporated eastern Wake County. • Required fleet: wheelchair‑accessible vehicles (with optional electric/hybrid options). • Operational hours: Minimum 6 am‑7 pm, Monday‑Friday; optional evenings/weekends in alternative case. • Technology: Mobile app & call‑in dispatch, WCAG‑compliant, fare‑collection module optional. • Data & reporting: Real‑time dashboards, GIS‑compatible trip data, performance metrics. • Budget: Base case ≈ $1.3 M annually; alternative case must stay within the same cap. • Timeline: RFP posted 5 Oct 2026, pre‑proposal virtual conference 14 Oct 2026, questions due 21 Oct 2026, final proposals due 16 Nov 2026, service start 1 Jul 2027.