The Daily Freeman is reporting a proposal to bring “affordable, convenient, electric micro-transit, on-demand through a mobile app” to the city of Kingston and Ellenville has been selected as a phase one awardee in a statewide grant program. The Ulster Connect proposal was awarded a phase one grant through the New York Clean Transportation Prizes’ “Clean Neighborhoods Challenge,” according to a press release. The proposal will be the first mobility service of its kind in Ulster. It is a joint initiative between the county, Sustainable Hudson Valley, Family of Woodstock, and Via. Via is a company that builds software to enable its customers to transform their transportation systems into digital networks. The plan is still in the planning stages, according to information from the county executive’s office. The Ulster Connect micro-transit app will make it possible for users to book a ride to a location within the Kingston and Ellenville region using Via’s algorithms. The users will be directed to a “virtual bus stop” within a short walking distance, allowing for quick, efficient, shared trips that provide more flexibility than traditional public transit fixed routes and schedules. Users without smartphones will be able to book a ride through a call center. Ulster Connect is one of 17 projects announced through phase one of the competition and is now eligible to compete for up to $85 million in grand prizes under phase two. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.