In the age of real-time mobility, who really holds the wheel?
As public transit systems across the U.S. face mounting pressure to stay relevant in a world of rapid change, from shifting commuter habits to unpredictable disruptions and seasonal fluctuations, the conversation is evolving. It’s no longer just about routes and schedules. It’s about control: empowering both agencies and riders to adapt in real time to an increasingly dynamic mobility landscape.
The Redding Area Bus Authority (RABA) is embracing this future. In April 2025, RABA partnered with Moovit to bring an ad-free, Mobility as a Service (MaaS) platform to riders throughout Shasta County. For RABA, this partnership is part of a larger strategy to enhance mobility management in the region. Alongside programs like travel training and the Ride Ranger ambassador initiative, the agency is investing in digital tools that remove barriers and make public transportation more accessible and intuitive for all users.
Through this partnership, RABA riders can now plan multimodal trips that combine the agency’s 13 fixed and flex bus routes, Runabout microtransit zones, real-time tracking, and fare payment, along with shared mobility services like BCycle e-bikes, Uber, and Lyft all through a single, user-friendly app. The interface simplifies first- and last-mile connections, enabling users to move seamlessly between different travel modes, whether they’re commuting, attending events, or exploring the county. An expanded collaboration with Moovit has led to a 188% increase in Moovit app usage by RABA riders since January 2025.
Every summer, transit agencies must quickly adjust for events, student travel, and park service expansions. Traditionally, these updates are difficult to communicate quickly and clearly. With Moovit, RABA can instantly update schedules, detours, and service alerts, and riders see those changes immediately, empowering them to adjust their plans with confidence.
This kind of responsiveness is essential for small and mid-sized agencies, allowing them to function less like bureaucracies and more like nimble service providers, responsive to rider feedback, evolving demand, and external disruptions.
This collaboration highlights a larger question in the transit industry: Who should shape the digital rider experience? RABA is taking the lead by ensuring that the needs of its community remain the top priority. As the agency that designs routes, understands local travel behavior, and operates the entire system, RABA is best positioned to guide this experience. By partnering strategically, RABA maintains full control over its data and service operations while utilizing Moovit’s digital tools and infrastructure to enhance its rider experience with modern, flexible solutions.
The result? A more connected, responsive, and rider-centered transportation system- one that supports environmentally friendly travel choices, encourages multimodal connections, and meets the needs of suburban, rural, and evening travelers.
In the ongoing evolution of Mobility as a Service, RABA’s approach offers a promising model: empower riders in the moment, and equip agencies with the tools to evolve as fast as the world around them.
Because in today’s world, control isn’t about rigidity- it’s about adaptability.
Article by John Andoh, Transit General Manager, Kelly Sepelyak, Executive Assistant I, Redding Area Bus Authority, and Sharon Kaslassi, Global PR Manager, Moovit