RC Link
RC Link was a project designed to improve connectivity between the cities of Revere and Chelsea and provide both with enhanced access to downtown Boston
Client Context
The cities of Revere and Chelsea are both suburbs of downtown Boston. While each municipality contains rail lines leading into Boston, transit coverage within each city was poor. Furthermore, first- and last-mile connections to both rail stations were sparse, leaving commuters ultimately dependent on cars to get into the city.
In 2025, the city expanded its public transportation offerings with a microtransit service to address gaps in bus coverage and reduce car dependency.
Project Overview
The project's deliverables included a consumer mobile app paired with a 5-vehicle microtransit service serving Chelsea, Revere, and Beachmont. Service vehicles were hybrid-powered, in line with best sustainability practices, and the fleet consisted of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles to ensure transit access for riders with disabilities.
Unique Factors / Challenges
Unique factors of this project were locale management, GTFS integration, and client/partner management. The service area's demographic makeup was incredibly diverse, with significant populations speaking Arabic, Portuguese, and Spanish. Therefore, additional engineering effort was required to ensure that the mobile app user flows and designs were compatible with each language. Furthermore, marketing efforts were tailored to ensure that visual elements and copy resonated with each population while maintaining best-practice standards.
Another unique feature of the project was the inclusion of a GTFS integration for the local Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority(MBTA) train stations. This functionality was included to allow riders to seamlessly plan their train connections to the MBTA Blue & Silver lines alongside their microtransit rides within the mobile app.
Finally, the client management and service planning aspects of this project were notable as well. The project had two clients - The City of Revere and The City of Chelsea - in comparison to the usual standard of one. This setup impacted all execution workstreams, as all aspects of the project needed to be aligned with the regulations and stakeholder preferences in both cities.
Achievements & Outcome
A white-label mobile application titled "RC Link"
A brand new microtransit service offering residents of Revere and Chelsea a new way to travel among the towns and to access rail lines connecting to Downtown Boston.
Service of over 150 rides per day
