COBB COUNTY, GA — More than 100,000 additional Cobb County residents will have access to microtransit after county commissioners narrowly approved an expansion of the on-demand service.

Commissioners approved the plan in a 3-2 vote along party lines. The plan expands the existing microtransit service area in South Cobb and creates a new pilot program in the Acworth-Kennesaw area.

Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid said the expansion will provide more transportation options to residents who may not have access to a vehicle.

“This will enable us today to provide the service in areas where we can make options more available to those who may not have access,” Cupid said.

The county has operated microtransit service for the past couple of years. Unlike traditional bus service, riders request a minivan pickup in advance, similar to Uber or Lyft.

“For a lot of people we take for granted that we can hop in our vehicles, but for others we know that this is a necessity,” Cupid said.

Opponents raised concerns about the cost of the expansion and whether residents want the service.

“Cobb doesn’t want microtransit,” resident Rosman said. “Our money, our taxes, are being squandered.”

Commissioner JoAnn Birrell also raised concerns about the cost and whether transit decisions should go before voters.

“Any transit in Cobb should be a referendum,” Birrell said.

Cupid said expanding access to transportation could help connect more residents to opportunities.

“We know that anything that we do to be able to connect people to opportunity, helps to move this county forward,” Cupid said.

The overall CobbLinc service, which includes standard bus routes, has seen an increase in ridership over the past couple of years.

WSB Radio’s Jonathan O’Brien contributed to this story.