Why showing paratransit and fixed-route together matters

Transit leaders know the challenge well: paratransit demand keeps climbing, but vehicles, funding, and staff aren’t growing at the same pace. At the same time, you’ve invested in travel training to help riders build independence on fixed-route—but most digital tools don’t support that shift.

• Paratransit-only apps lock riders into a single option.
• General trip planners overwhelm them with choices or send them the wrong way.
• And dispatchers are left to handle the fallout when trips pile up.

What’s missing is a smarter way to connect fixed-route, microtransit, and paratransit—so riders can see all their options, and agencies can preserve resources for those who need them most.

That’s exactly what Spare’s multimodal trip planner delivers.

And agencies are already seeing results: in Central Texas, The HOP hit 46,000 boardings in January 2025—their highest month yet—with 92% on-time performance and 96% rider satisfaction. Meanwhile in the Twin Cities, Metro micro has reached 10,000+ monthly boardings, 93% rider satisfaction, and 96% OTP.

“We needed the right software partner that could deliver against a highly complex transit network in support of large urban folds, small urban folds, and rural counties.” — Raymond Suarez, General Manager, The HOP

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Multimodal trip planning with Spare: one tool for every rider

Spare brings paratransit, microtransit, and fixed-route together in one trip planner—so riders see all their options side by side.

Here’s what that means in practice:

• Riders can combine bus, rail, and on-demand into one seamless trip.
• They don’t have to juggle multiple apps.
• Agencies can keep paratransit trips available for those who rely on them most.

Instead of splitting systems apart, Spare connects them—helping agencies get more from every resource, while riders get more control over how they travel. At Metro micro, this shift means 89% of trips are now booked directly through the rider app, reducing call volume for dispatchers and supporting OTP that consistently sits at 96%

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Using GTFS and GTFS-Flex to unify paratransit, microtransit, and fixed-route

Behind the scenes, Spare uses the same open data standards that power fixed-route trip planners.

What’s the difference?

GTFS (General Transit Feed Specification) is the global standard for fixed-route schedules and real-time updates.

GTFS-Flex extends GTFS by including flexible transit services like microtransit and paratransit, which don’t follow strict schedules or fixed routes. With GTFS-Flex, agencies can make on-demand services just as discoverable as buses or trains—so they show up seamlessly in trip planners and apps.

Here’s how it works in Spare:

1. Agencies provide their existing GTFS schedule and real-time data.
2. Spare automatically exports GTFS-Flex data for paratransit and microtransit.
3. All of this is combined inside Spare Engine.
4. When a rider searches for a trip, the engine considers every mode—fixed and flexible.
5. Results show up across Spare’s tools: the Spare One rider app, booking agents in Spare Operations, and soon AI voice and chat.

The result? A unified view of all options—whether the rider needs to get to work, a medical appointment, or a transfer point. That’s exactly how The HOP uses GTFS-Flex today: linking on-demand, regional routes, and Uber partnerships in one planner. The system now supports 3,000+ unique riders per month, each averaging around 10 trips.

Checklist for transit operations: is your system ready for multimodal service?

Ask yourself:

✅ Do your riders only see paratransit trips in their app—even after travel training?
✅ Are riders forced to switch between multiple tools to plan one journey?
✅ Is paratransit demand eating up capacity that could be preserved with better fixed-route visibility?
✅ Do your current digital tools reinforce independence—or keep riders dependent?

If you checked off even one of these, it may be time to connect your systems with a smarter planner.

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Benefits of multimodal trip planning for transit agencies and riders

For agencies:

• Optimize scarce paratransit capacity
• Fewer manual trip edits and dispatcher interventions
• Better vehicle usage across modes
• Less dispatcher micromanagement thanks to better rider self-navigation
• Build a more sustainable system

“Interconnectivity has been our goal—bridging fixed route, light rail, commuter rail, and now on-demand. Riders can plan system trips easier with Spare’s multimodal functionality.” — John Harper, Director of Contracted Services, Metro Transit

For riders:

• More independence and confidence using fixed-route—because tools reinforce training, not undermine it.
• Clearer options for combining modes—so riders feel empowered to make the choice that fits their day.
• A smoother day-to-day travel experience—fewer surprises, more control.

Multimodal planning turns training into habit, and habit into true independence.

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Connect fixed-route and on-demand trips with Spare’s multimodal planner

Multimodal is more than rider convenience—it’s a rider empowerment strategy. By helping people put their travel training into practice, agencies support independence at scale while stretching resources further. 

And the system wins too: by connecting fixed-route, microtransit, and paratransit in one planner, agencies preserve limited resources, strengthen accessibility, and build a more sustainable model.

With Spare, you can:

✅ Preserve paratransit for riders who need it most
✅ Empower more riders to take fixed-route confidently
✅ Reflect real-world travel patterns in your system

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