A so-called “micro transit” ride sharing system under consideration by Metro would attract new people to public transit and better serve existing customers, the agency’s chief innovation officer said Monday.
Metro’s Joshua Schank said the system would work in a similar way to Uber and Lyft, with passengers ordering custom trips though a mobile phone application, and would be integrated with its larger system. Metro is issuing a request for proposals to develop a pilot program on Wednesday.
“As far as cost, we see the price point for the service being a less expensive alternative to Uber and Lyft. It will be pooled shared rides only, you can’t have your own personal vehicle, so that makes it a price point that is lower than Uber and Lyft,” Schank said during a conference call with reporters.
Metro officials said previously that the vehicles used in the system would be smaller than a 40-foot bus but larger than a five-passenger sedan.
Schank said a person taking three buses in the morning in a five-mile area may have to wait for each bus and the trip could take 90 minutes, but “now you have a point-to-point option where the service picks you up in 10 minutes and delivers you there directly, and maybe your trip only takes half an hour.”
–City News Service