{{Short description|Transit service in Gastonia, North Carolina, USA}}
{{Infobox Bus transit | name = GoGastonia | logo = | logo_size = | image = | image_size = | image_caption = | company_slogan = | parent = | founded = |commenced={{unbulleted list|Gastonia Transit: 1978|GoGastonia: 2024}}| headquarters = | locale = | service_area =[[Gastonia, North Carolina]] | service_type = [[Microtransit]] | alliance = | routes = | destinations = | stops = | hubs = | stations = | fleet =22 minivans | ridership = | fuel_type = | operator = [[Via Transportation]] | ceo = | website = {{official URL}} }}
'''GoGastonia''' is a [[microtransit]] service in [[Gastonia, North Carolina]], operated by [[Via Transportation]] and sponsored by the City of Gastonia. GoGastonia is the successor of '''Gastonia Transit System''', the city's fixed-route bus service, which was replaced by the microtransit service beginning in July 2024. GoGastonia uses a fleet of 22 [[minivan]]s to provide service, including 6 [[Wheelchair accessible van|wheelchair-accessible vans]].
== History == Gastonia Transit began operation in 1978, when the city of Gastonia took over the operations of two failing private bus operators: the Gastonia Transit Company and the City Coach Company. The two companies shared ownership and management, and began receiving subsidies from the [[Urban Mass Transit Administration]] and [[Gaston County, North Carolina|Gaston County]] in 1975.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Murray |first=Michael M. |date=1992-02-10 |title=Bills of Fare: Gastonia Transit getting close look as losses mount |work=The Gaston Gazette |pages=1B, 3B |via=[[NewspaperArchive]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Byrd |first=John |date=1977-03-11 |title=Elderly to ride buses at reduced fares |work=[[The Gastonia Gazette]] |page=1B |via=NewspaperArchive}}</ref> Gastonia Transit served 1,500 passengers per day on average in 1991, with 7 fixed-route buses on 13 routes and an annual operating budget of $850,000.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1991-10-17 |title=Gastonia bus system study under way |work=The Gaston Gazette |page=1B |pages= |via=NewspaperArchive}}</ref> [[File:Bradley Station 06-2022 01.jpg|thumb|Bradley Station in 2022]] [[Bradley Station]] in downtown Gastonia opened in 1994, providing a central station for all Gastonia Transit services. The station was rebuilt from an existing building, and was also intended to serve intercity buses.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Barrett |first=Michael |date=2019-09-30 |title=Upgrades coming to Bradley Station bus terminal |url=https://www.gastongazette.com/story/news/politics/county/2019/09/30/upgrades-coming-to-bradley-station-bus-terminal/2653631007/ |access-date=2025-02-06 |work=Gaston Gazette}}</ref>
The annual budget to operate Gastonia Transit services rose to approximately $1.8 million by 2001.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hess |first=Elizabeth |date=2001-06-17 |title=Subsidized services: How fees and taxpayer money support city programs |work=The Gaston Gazette |pages=1A,6A |via=NewspaperArchive}}</ref> That year, Gastonia Transit began a partnership with the [[Charlotte Area Transit System]] for a Gastonia–[[Belmont, North Carolina|Belmont]]–[[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]] commuter bus service, operated by CATS.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Barrett |first=Michael |date=2018-10-22 |title=City sees value in express bus to Charlotte, despite rising cost |work=The Gaston Gazette |page=A3 |pages= |via=NewspaperArchive}}</ref> Gastonia Transit revised its schedules in 2004, retaining the existing routes and adding [[schedule padding]] to improve reliability. The schedule changes resulted in lower levels of service, with most routes operating every 90 minutes instead of every 60 minutes. The schedule changes, combined with a fare increase, resulted in a significant decrease in ridership. From 2004 to 2006, annual ridership decreased from over 400,000 to approximately 283,000 trips, a change of over 29%.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=September 2007 |title=Gastonia Transit Expansion Study |url=https://gastonianc.gov/images/files/planning/documents/Plans/Gastonia-Transit-Expansion-Study-20141001.pdf |access-date=2025-02-05 |work= |publisher=Gaston Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization}}</ref>{{Rp|location=Section 2}}
A 2007 study criticized the 2004 schedule changes, especially the decision to retain existing routes and increase travel time. The study recommended revising the routes and working to improve frequency, with the goal of regaining ridership and keeping operating costs consistent.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|location=Section 4}} The study's recommendations were implemented in 2009, with reduced travel times, better frequencies, and expanded services to the south side of Gastonia.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Barrett |first=Michael |date=March 12, 2011 |title=More people in Gastonia using public transportation |work=The Gaston Gazette |pages=1A,8A |via=NewspaperArchive}}</ref>
From March 2020 to August 2022, Gastonia Transit suspended fares due to the effects of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in North Carolina]]. Federal funding from the [[CARES Act]] made up for the lost revenue from fares.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ellis |first=Kevin |date=2022-07-18 |title=Gastonia ending free bus fares |url=https://www.gastongazette.com/story/news/2022/07/18/gastonia-ending-free-bus-fares/10047500002/ |access-date=2025-02-06 |work=Gaston Gazette}}</ref> Bradley Station was remodeled in 2022, adding office and break room space.<ref name=":1" />
In January 2024, the city of Gastonia announced that it would eliminate its fixed-route bus system. In its place, the city council approved a contract with [[Via Transportation]] for a [[microtransit]] service, using a fleet of minivans that are dispatched using a mobile app.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-24 |title=City of Gastonia to Launch GoGastonia On-Demand Transit Service |url=https://cityofgastonia.news/2024/06/city-of-gastonia-to-launch-gogastonia-on-demand-transit-service/ |access-date=2025-02-06 |work=City News Source |publisher=City of Gastonia}}</ref> GoGastonia began service on July 1, 2024 with a fleet of 14 [[Honda Odyssey (North America)|Honda Odyssey]] minivans, replacing 6 bus routes. The fare for GoGastonia was initially set at $2.00, an increase from the existing $1.25 bus fare.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Richards |first=Destiny |date=2024-07-01 |title=Gastonia replaces city buses with microtransit service |url=https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/gastonia/micro-transit-service-city-buses-replaced/275-9a21ea26-7c67-4521-8d72-22741417d07f |access-date=2025-01-22 |work=WCNC-TV}}</ref>
Residents and media criticized the GoGastonia service in August 2024, following multiple incidents where passengers were left stranded after waiting multiple hours for a ride. City officials attributed the delays to high demand for the service.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Collins |first=Chloe |date=2024-08-14 |title=Gastonia residents raise concerns over reliability of new transport system |url=https://www.gastongazette.com/story/news/local/2024/08/14/residents-say-they-were-left-stranded-for-hours-after-using-gogastonia/74718624007/ |access-date=2025-01-22 |work=Gaston Gazette}}</ref> The city announced an expansion of the service in September 2024, adding more vans to the service for a total of 22.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Collins |first=Chloe |date=2024-09-15 |title=Changes coming to GoGastonia in October |url=https://www.gastongazette.com/story/news/local/2024/09/15/city-responds-to-public-requests-for-changes-to-gogastonia/75145100007/ |access-date=2025-02-05 |work=Gaston Gazette}}</ref> To help fund the service expansion, fares were increased from $2.00 to $2.50, effective January 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Korynta |first=Emma |date=2024-12-17 |title=Gastonia city leaders approve rate hike for microtransit service |url=https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/gastonia/gogastonia-micro-transit-could-see-price-increase/275-a96eadd8-35d5-4813-91d7-fe31288a5f05 |access-date=2025-01-22 |work=WCNC-TV}}</ref>
==Former fixed routes== The six fixed routes all served [[Bradley Station]]. The standard fare was $1.25.<ref name="GT_Info">{{cite web |url=https://www.cityofgastonia.com/images/files/fleet_services/documents/TransitMapJuly2018print.pdf |title=Gastonia Transit Information |date=July 2018 |publisher=City of Gastonia |access-date=May 9, 2022}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" |- ! # ! Route Name ! Destinations
|- | '''1''' | Pink Line | Franklin & New Hope, Social Security Building, New Hope & Huntsmoor, Franklin Square, and Gaston Mall/Target |- | '''2''' | Blue Line | Village Square, YMCA, Hudson & Union, Main Library, and Schiele Museum |- | rowspan=2| '''3''' | Brown Line (Eastbound) | Dixie Village, Hudson & Myrtle, Health Department, and Chester & 10th |- | Brown Line (Westbound) | Chester & 10th, Health Department, Hudson & Myrtle, and Dixie Village |- | rowspan=2| '''4''' | Red Line (Eastbound) | Dixie Village and Linwood Terrace Apartments |- | Red Line (Westbound) | Loray Mill, Bessemer Crescent, and Dixie Village |- | rowspan=2| '''5''' | Yellow Line (Eastbound) | Dixie Village, May & Webb, Glenn & Davidson, and Radio Street Apartments |- | Yellow Line (Westbound) | Radio Street Apartments, Glenn & Davidson, May & Webb, and Dixie Village |- | rowspan=2| '''6''' | Green Line (Eastbound) | Modena & Ozark, [[CaroMont Regional Medical Center]], and [[Eastridge Mall (Gastonia)|Eastridge Mall]] |- | Green Line (Westbound) | Eastridge Mall, Summit Crossing, and Modena & Ozark |- |}
Routes as listed are as of July 2018.<ref name=GT_Info/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website}}
[[Category:Bus transportation in North Carolina]] [[Category:Gastonia, North Carolina]] [[Category:Transportation in Gaston County, North Carolina]]