PEABODY — The city and the North Shore Transportation Management Association (North Shore TMA) are exploring transportation options for people who live in or work in Peabody who do not have access to cars.
The city is asking people to take part in a five-minute online survey posted on the city’s website.
“It’s a really unique concept and I am really looking forward to seeing what people’s thoughts are,” said Councilor-at-Large and Peabody Main Streets President Tom Rossignoll. “The results will be a good barometer of where we will take this.”
The proposed service is a cross between a bus and an on-demand service (similar to ride-share apps Uber and Lyft) that utilizes an app to pool people together for rides. It will serve popular destinations in the most efficient way possible and enhance existing public-transit options.
Passengers will have the ability to request rides by using a phone app or calling a dispatch service. The app or dispatcher will inform prospective passengers of the pickup location, the time the vehicle will arrive and how long the trip will take.
The goal is to have trips take no more than a defined time depending on traffic conditions. The service will provide stops at major destinations within the community and also at the Salem Commuter Rail station. To maximize coordination between this service and the Commuter Rail, passengers planning to meet designated trains on the commuter rail will be prioritized.
The city and North Shore TMA say the information provided in the survey will help them determine the scope and needs of the community and how to define the initial pilot service.
“It’s really important to know where the need is now,” Rossignoll said. “Public transportation is woefully lacking in Peabody compared to our neighboring communities, particularly the bus service, which is antiquated and inadequate. We just need to do a better job by identifying where the needs are.”
The survey includes questions on which destinations are frequently visited, specifically the Salem commuter stations; the Northshore and Liberty Tree malls; medical service providers at Sylvan Street, Centennial Park and Lahey; and the senior center. The survey asks participants to identify the times of day they typically travel in and out of Peabody and which factors are considered when deciding to travel. Questions also ask whether or not public transportation is available, the frequency of its use and, if you don’t use public transportation, what are the reasons.
Participants in the survey can enter a raffle for a $100 Simon mall gift card. The deadline to participate is Sept. 10.
