FRESNO, Calif. – Today Inspiration Transportation announced the launch of REV-UP (rural electric vehicle utilization project), its new electric rideshare program available for residents in rural unincorporated communities in Fresno County. The project, in partnership with the Fresno County Rural Transit Agency (FCRTA), will offer $5 round trip rides in all-electric 2020 Chevy Bolts. The pilot program will launch in West Park beginning on October 5th, 2020 and will extend to other rural communities, including Biola, in the coming months.
REV-UP was developed to help fill transportation gaps in sparsely populated, low-density communities where public transit is not viable and where FCRTA is stretched to provide services for residents in need. The pilot project aims to be a vital community resource, providing access to jobs, education, and health care as well as a reduction in vehicle emissions to improve air quality.
Inspiration Transportation was involved in the Fresno Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) collaborative community engagement process and draws on local data and direct community feedback to pinpoint specific areas of need where both public transportation and air quality are in dire need of improvement. In 2019, the American Lung Association ranked Fresno at the top for being one of the most polluted cities in the country, underscoring the importance to develop, implement, and market zero-emission transportation as critical to a community’s health. Inspiration Transportation will coordinate its microtransit services alongside local, social service organizations who have expressed the need for their
clients to access low-cost or no-cost transportation to help meet their basic needs.
“My hope is that REV-UP will inspire residents to utilize electric vehicles not only for the reliability, cost, and time-saving benefits, but also for the long-term improvements to our air quality and our community’s overall health,” said Matthew Gillian, founder of Inspiration Transportation. “The TCC process was an eye-opening experience for me, and my goal is to make sure the funds we use go directly into the community so Fresno’s most underserved residents can experience the tangible benefits of our services. I am grateful to FCRTA for their support and guidance on this inaugural project for our organization, and I
look forward to expanding our services alongside agencies throughout the Central Valley.”
Primary funding, the electric vehicle, and project coordination for Inspiration Transportation’s rural rideshare pilot comes from FCRTA. Additional project funding comes from the Central Valley Community Foundation and Beneficial State Bank.
“We are excited to partner with Inspiration Transportation on this micro-mobility project. We believe this project is bringing new alternatives that enhance accessibility for rural residents living in unincorporated communities with a reliable, safe and environmentally friendly transportation. This will provide the residents of Biola and West Park with an innovative and cost-efficient transportation option where traditional general public transit has not been a suitable option,” said Moses Stites, General Manager of FCRTA.
Rides through Inspiration Transportation’s new pilot program are offered beginning October 5th, Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm, on a first-come, first-serve basis for West Park residents needing transportation into the Fresno-Clovis metropolitan area. Rides can be
requested by calling 1-800-425-1524. For more information on Inspiration Transportation and its services, please visit www.itransportev.com or email iTransportEV@gmail.com.
ABOUT INSPIRATION TRANSPORTATION
Founded in 2017, Inspiration Transportation is a 501(c)3 public charitable organization in the San Joaquin Valley with the mission of providing sustainable transportation to underserved communities. Inspiration Transportation believes it is critical to a community’s health to develop, implement, and market zero-emission transportation to its residents, and to offer low-cost or no-cost electric transportation where fixed-route, public transportation is not affordable or viable for its residents. For more information on Inspiration Transportation’s projects, partnerships, leadership, and funding sources, please visit: www.itransportev.com.
Press Contact:
Natasha Biasell
559-917-4476
natasha@ivypublicrelations.com