Winston-Salem Transit Authority

What Winston-Salem Transit Authority does

Winston-Salem Transit Authority (WSTA) is a municipal public transit authority established in 1972 and owned by the City of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It provides fixed-route bus service across 33 routes and complementary paratransit service (TransAID) for ADA-eligible riders, supported by approximately 200 employees and serving roughly 1.3 million annual riders. Since August 1, 2024, day-to-day operations have been managed by RATP Dev USA under a contract with the City of Winston-Salem, while the City retains ownership and provides public funding.

The authority's technology backbone is the Umo Mobility account-based fare payment platform (provided by Cubic), which replaced paper passes and cash with a mobile app (iOS/Android), physical contactless smartcard, QR-code boarding, automatic transfers, and a $2/day fare cap. Riders can plan trips and view real-time bus locations through ridewsta.com, with GTFS data feeds exposed for third-party transit apps. All fixed-route buses are ADA-compliant with low-floor entry and offer free onboard Wi-Fi. Half-fare programs are available to seniors (60+), persons with disabilities, veterans, and Medicare cardholders.

WSTA's revenue mechanics combine per-ride fares ($1.00 adult / $0.50 half-fare) and pass sales (10-ride or 30-day) with city appropriations, federal and state transit grants, and the management contract with RATP Dev USA. Customer segments include the general commuting public plus focused persona segments: seniors, persons with disabilities, veterans, and Medicare cardholders. Distribution occurs through bus stops, the downtown Transit Center, the Umo mobile app, the call center (336-727-2000), and the TransAID booking system for paratransit riders.

Name

Winston-Salem Transit Authority

Legal name

Winston-Salem Transit Authority

Website

https://wstransit.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Winston-Salem Transit Authority is a municipal public transit authority owned by the City of Winston-Salem, NC, operating 33 fixed bus routes plus TransAID paratransit service for approximately 200 employees serving 1.3 million annual riders, with RATP Dev USA managing operations since August 2024.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Transit Services

NAICS

Special Needs Transportation (485991), Other Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation (48599)

SIC

Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100)

akta.pro primary industry

Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) Providers (TLAFAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Special Needs & Senior Transportation Services (TLAFAKAI), Senior & Assisted-Living Demand-Responsive Transport (THAIAHAE), Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) (HSABAOAA)

Keywords

• Public transit services
• Paratransit transportation
• Fare payment platform
• ADA accessible transit
• Fixed-route bus service

Headquarters

HQ city

Winston Salem

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Fixed Route Fares: Passengers pay cash fares or purchase passes (10-ride or 30-day) to use fixed-route bus services. Revenue is generated per ride transaction with free transfers included.
2. TransAID Paratransit Fares: Paratransit service fares charged per ride or through 30-ride passes for eligible passengers who cannot use fixed-route services.
3. City of Winston-Salem Contract with RATP Dev USA: The City of Winston-Salem contracts with RATP Dev USA to operate the transit system. WSTA is publicly funded transit authority.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

WSTA operates public fixed-route bus transportation across 33 routes in Winston-Salem, NC, serving approximately 1.3 million annual riders with free onboard Wi-Fi and ADA-compliant vehicles. It also provides TransAID door-to-door paratransit service for older adults and riders with disabilities, and runs the Umo Mobility account-based fare payment platform (mobile app and smartcard) with $2/day fare capping and automatic transfers. Day-to-day operations are managed by RATP Dev USA under contract with the City of Winston-Salem.

Product overview

Winston-Salem Transit Authority (WSTA) operates a comprehensive public transportation system consisting of 33 fixed bus routes and paratransit services for the Winston-Salem, NC metropolitan area. The core product portfolio includes Fixed Route Bus Service (with free onboard Wi-Fi and real-time tracking), TransAID Paratransit Service (for eligible riders with disabilities), and Door-to-Door Paratransit. These services are supported by the Umo Mobility fare payment platform (mobile app and smartcard), ADA Assistance, and Customer Support. As of August 2024, operations transitioned to RATP Dev USA management with new technology implementations across the system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TransAID: Paratransit service for eligible riders who are older adults and/or have a disability that prevents them from utilizing WSTA's fixed route services.

Products and services

• Fixed Route Bus Service Fixed-route bus service operating on a reliable schedule across 33 routes in Winston-Salem for general public riders, including free onboard Wi-Fi, real-time bus tracking, ADA-compliant low-floor buses with ramps, and the ability to pay via cash, Umo Smartcard, or Umo mobile app. Free transfers are included between routes.
• TransAID Paratransit Service Shared-ride, door-to-door paratransit transportation service for ADA-eligible riders who are older adults and/or have a disability that prevents them from using fixed-route buses. Advance booking is required, with night-before ride reminders and on-the-way alerts. Fares are $1.00 cash or $30.00 for a 30-ride pass.
• Umo Mobility Fare Payment Platform Account-based fare payment platform providing mobile app (iOS and Android) and contactless Umo Smartcard options for purchasing passes, loading Umo Cash, scanning QR codes to board buses, checking balances, viewing ride history, and receiving notifications. Features automatic transfers across routes and $2/day fare capping for general riders.
• Door-to-Door Paratransit Paratransit service where drivers pick up ADA-eligible passengers from their home and transport them to their destination with care and comfort, with wheelchair lifts and accessibility accommodations for individuals unable to use fixed-route services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1.3 million annual riders (FY 2025)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• RATP Dev USAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2024In 2024, the City of Winston-Salem voted to approve a contract with RATP Dev USA to begin operating the Winston-Salem Transit Authority's bus system. Service under the new contract began August 1, 2024. RATP Dev USA manages WSTA operations including bus services, customer service, and dispatch, bringing over 50 years of transit experience.
• City of Winston-SalemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe City of Winston-Salem owns and funds WSTA. In 1972, the city purchased Safe Bus Company's assets and created the Winston Salem Transit Authority. The city contracts with RATP Dev USA for operations and provides public funding for transit services.
• Umo Mobility (Cubic)coreTechnology or IntegrationUmo Mobility platform is the account-based fare system that replaced paper passes and cash fares. The platform includes mobile app, smartcard, QR code scanning, fare capping, and automatic transfers. Available on iOS and Android.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Uber: Uber provides on-demand rideshare and Uber Health (NEMT) services. It competes for the same discretionary rider trips that WSTA's fixed-route service targets, making it a competitive substitute in the Winston-Salem mobility market.
• Cubic Transportation Systems: Cubic provides the Umo Mobility account-based fare platform that WSTA uses. It is an ecosystem/technology peer — the vendor enabling WSTA's fare collection, mobile app, and smartcard infrastructure.
• Lyft: Lyft provides rideshare and Lyft Healthcare (NEMT) services. It is a relevant adjacent peer given its overlap with WSTA's general-public ridership and shared focus on paratransit/medical transportation via partnerships.

Direct peers

• Greensboro Transit Authority (GTA): GTA operates fixed-route buses and paratransit (SCAT) in Greensboro, NC. It is the closest geographic and scale peer to WSTA, serving a similar mid-size North Carolina city with comparable route counts and paratransit offerings.
• Durham Area Transit Authority (DATA): DATA provides fixed-route and paratransit service in Durham, NC. It is a comparable municipal transit authority in scale and service mix, including similar fare programs and ADA-compliant operations.
• GoRaleigh (City of Raleigh Transit): GoRaleigh operates fixed-route bus service and paratransit (GoRaleigh Access) in Raleigh, NC. It is a municipal transit system in the same state with comparable service structure and ADA paratransit programs.
• Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS): CATS provides fixed-route bus, light rail, and streetcar service in the Charlotte, NC metro area. Like WSTA, it is a municipal transit authority providing ADA paratransit and urban bus service, making it the most directly comparable North Carolina peer.

Emerging players

• Via Transportation: Via provides on-demand microtransit and paratransit software used by many U.S. transit agencies. It is comparable to WSTA's paratransit/TransAID offering as a technology-enabled demand-responsive transit peer.

Regional players

• Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART): PART provides regional bus service connecting Winston-Salem, Greensboro, High Point, and surrounding areas. It is a regional partner/adjacent service to WSTA, operating in the same Triad region of North Carolina.

Broad incumbents

• RATP Dev USA: RATP Dev USA is the contracted operator of WSTA and a major U.S. transit management firm operating fixed-route, paratransit, and shuttle services for municipalities nationwide. It is directly comparable as a transit operations partner and broader industry incumbent.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WSTABUS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/winston-salem-transit-authority

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Winston-Salem Transit Authority