1. What’s a Mobility Hub?

Mobility Hubs are enhanced bus stops that provide more amenities than you may see at your local bus stop now. They will be branded to match the ‘look’ of the new Rural Rapid Transit service. (see Question #2) Not all mobility hubs will include all amenities and some amenities may be added at a later time.

2. What’s Rural Rapid Transit?

Rural Rapid Transit is a type of bus service that focuses on providing fast, high-comfort service. For NCRTD, RRT will run along the NM-68 corridor and will make a limited number of stops, so that you can get to your destination faster. The bus will feature signal prioritization which will “talk” to any upcoming traffic signals and hold the light green to allow the bus to proceed through the intersection more quickly. Bus stops will have enhanced amenities including ‘level boarding’ – this means passengers are able to step directly onto the bus without stairs. Buses will be dispatched more frequently, as often as every fifteen minutes, which will make for a shorter trip time. Special branding will be applied to identify the premium level of service and shelters will be enhanced with branding and other amenities such as real-time passenger information (when the next bus will arrive). RRT will function in many ways like a rail service. The NCRTD RRT system will not have dedicated transit lanes as do Bus Rapid Transit systems in larger cities across the country.

3. What is Microtransit?

Microtransit is a flexible, on-demand public transportation service that uses smaller vehicles, like vans or shuttles. Unlike traditional bus service that runs on fixed routes and schedules, microtransit allows passengers to request rides through a mobile app or by calling in. Microtransit is typically provided in a specific area defined by the transit agency. NCRTD is studying these types of systems to connect riders to and from the new mobility hubs.

4. What is Micromobility?

Micromobility refers to small, lightweight and low-speed vehicles that are designed for short trips. Examples include station-based bikeshare systems, dockless bikeshare systems, electric-assist bikeshare, and electric scooters. These systems are often accessed via a mobile app. Micromobility options may be added to the new mobility hubs in the future.

5. How did you select the communities that will have mobility hubs?

The preliminary geographic locations for the proposed mobility hubs were identified following community input during the NCRTD Long-Range Strategic Plan. As the map shows the hubs are generally located near a larger population area or a major destination.

6. When are you going to build the mobility hubs?

The mobility hubs will be part of the first construction phase of the planned Rural Rapid Transit line. Construction is anticipated to start in mid-2026, although a specific date has not been set at this time. Stay tuned for updates as the project moves forward.

7. How are you paying for the mobility hubs?

The RRT project and the mobility hubs will be funded by a combination of federal and potentially state or local investments depending on the location of the hub and the type of facility to be built.

8. Will my current bus stop go away?

The RRT route will follow the current regular bus routes. Depending on the location of the new mobility hubs, some existing stops may be relocated to serve passengers at the new mobility hub location.

9. Will my current bus route go away?

The RRT route will eventually replace the current 200 and 300 routes as they exist now. A new route number and brand name will be developed for the RRT line.

10. Will a mobility hub work like a regular bus stop?

An RRT mobility hub bus stop will look and function differently than a traditional bus stop. It will have ‘level boarding’, meaning that passengers can step directly onto the bus without any stairs. Bus stop signs will have special branding as will shelters. Stops may include amenities such as real-time passenger information stops or a nearby destination map. In future phases, a mobility hub may also include some form of Transit Oriented Development (TOD), which could include social services, retail or housing.

11. What is a hybrid electric bus?

A hybrid electric bus combines a traditional diesel or gasoline engine with an electric motor to

improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. It uses stored electric power to assist the engine,

making it cleaner and more efficient than standard buses.