NEW ROCHELLE, NY (June 7, 2026) — The City of New Rochelle is seeking proposals for a new five-year contract to operate its free downtown micro-transit service, opening competition for a program that has been provided by Circuit since 2019.
According to a Request for Proposals issued by the city, officials are seeking a vendor to operate a zero- or low-emission micro-transit program serving downtown New Rochelle at no cost to riders. The city said the service is intended to provide “a convenient alternative to personal vehicle trips,” support people who need additional mobility options and help reduce vehicle miles traveled, reliance on private automobiles and the city’s carbon footprint.
The solicitation does not identify a preferred vendor, meaning Circuit could compete for and potentially retain the contract.
According to information published by the city, Circuit has operated a fleet of six electric vehicles in New Rochelle since 2019. The city reported the service provides more than 3,000 rides per month at no cost to passengers and maintains an average rider rating of 4.9 out of 5.
The city has described the service as part of its broader downtown redevelopment efforts and sustainable transportation goals. City materials state the service allows riders to request trips through a smartphone application or by hailing a vehicle within the service area.
Under the RFP, the city is seeking an operator capable of providing on-demand service through a smartphone application, street hails or both. Service must operate within a city-approved service area and be available at a minimum during weekday commuting periods from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The city said preferred operating hours would include service from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays, noon to 10 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 7 p.m. on Sundays. Service hours should be scalable based on demand and coordination with city officials.
The selected vendor will be responsible for supplying and maintaining vehicles, hiring and training drivers, securing charging infrastructure and covering all related operating costs.
The city said electric or hybrid vehicles are preferred and encouraged vendors to propose vehicle types and capacities that best support their service models. While the city does not require a specific percentage of ADA-compliant vehicles, proposals that include wheelchair-accessible vehicles will be evaluated favorably.
The operator will be required to maintain enough vehicles to provide reliable service and deploy the maximum number of vehicles during peak commuting periods. Backup vehicles also must be available to replace vehicles taken out of service because of mechanical or operational issues.
The city said crowd-sourced drivers will not be permitted. All driver qualifications, training protocols and background-check procedures will be subject to approval by both the city and the New Rochelle Police Department.
According to the RFP, future expansions beyond the initial downtown service zone could be addressed through contract amendments. The city also encouraged bidders to propose innovative approaches to fleet sizing and service design rather than relying solely on historical ridership data.
The city anticipates awarding a five-year contract with optional renewals contingent upon available funding.
Proposals are due by 3 p.m. July 1.
This article was prepared with the assistance of AI tools under the direction and editing of Robert Cox.
Have information about this story? Email robertcox@talkofthesound (preferred) or contact via WhatsApp: +353 089 972 0669.
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