Want to explore South County without a car? The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) is launching a year-long program to bring the convenience of ride-sharing apps to public transit.

Starting Monday, passengers from South County can take a ride on the Flex on Demand smartphone appthat provides an estimated pickup time and tracks the trip in real time.

“This new pilot program leverages the convenience of modern technology to make public transit more accessible, flexible and responsive,” interim CEO Christopher Durand said in a statement Friday. “By combining the benefits of rideshare with the reliability of public transit, we are offering our riders more choice and more control over their travel experience.”

The service also covers Westerly, southern Aquidneck Island, Woonsocket and Pascoag/Slatersville.

This is not to be confused with the Ride Anywhere Programthat allows qualified customers to request rides outside of RIPTA’s existing paratransit service area. This initiative is scheduled to end on December 31, 2024.

Flex on Demand service will be available in Flex Zone 203, which includes Narragansett and South Kingstown. Service will be available Monday through Friday from 7:50 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and weekends and holidays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. All Flex vans are equipped with wheelchair accessible facilities to accommodate passengers with limited mobility.

The price for a one-way trip is $2 – the same as for a ride on a regular bus. The pilot project runs until August 31, 2025. Agency spokeswoman Cristy Raposo Perry said the costs of the initiative would be financed from RIPTA’s operating funds, but did not give a specific amount.

RI Transit Riders co-chair Patricia Raub called the program “a step in the right direction.”

“We are very much in favor of providing more service to those who are not on the regular routes,” she said in an interview Friday. “I welcome RIPTA’s experimentation with a way to reach the underserved areas and meet the demand there.”