[Colorado-Talk] RTD and Uber partnership?????

[Curtis Chong]

The following is posted on the RTD website at
https://www.rtd-denver.com/news-stop/news/rtd-uber-transit-debut-demand-serv
ice-access-ride-customers.

 

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RTD, UBER TRANSIT DEBUT ON-DEMAND SERVICE FOR ACCESS-A-RIDE CUSTOMERS


POSTED ON 

04.14.2021

Pilot program, available during peak service hours on weekdays, offers
wheelchair-accessible vehicles

The  <https://www.rtd-denver.com/> Regional Transportation District (RTD)
announced today that it is collaborating with Uber Transit to pilot an
on-demand service for Access-a-Ride customers in select ZIP codes within the
agency's district. The pilot period extends through November.

Uber Transit will help offer RTD Access-a-Ride customers a dedicated ride
alternative - including the ability to choose a wheelchair-accessible (WAV)
Access-a-Ride vehicle, provided through a partnership with Uber and MV
Transportation. All trips must be booked through the Uber app and meet the
following criteria:

*	Trips must begin or end in four pilot service ZIP codes: 80013,
80014, 80015 and 80016.
*	All UberX, XL and, now, WAV trips must be taken during peak service
hours on weekdays (6-9 a.m. and 2-5 p.m.).
*	Four trips per day, and a total of 60 trips per month, are allowed
per eligible Access-a-Ride customers.
*	These new software-as-a-service WAV trips will be subject to
familiar payment structures for Access-a-Ride customers, with the first $2
charged to the payment method tied to the customer's Uber account, and RTD
covering up to an additional $20 of each fare. If the total trip cost is
over $22, the customer will be responsible for that additional balance.

"RTD has been working for nearly two years to deploy a fully accessible
on-demand solution for our Access-a-Ride customers," said Paul Hamilton,
senior manager of paratransit services. "With the addition of
wheelchair-accessible vehicles, we will now be able to fully test response
time and customer satisfaction on a small scale.  Our goal is to be able to
develop a permanent on-demand solution for the entire RTD service area by
next year."

The Uber Transit pilot is open to current, certified RTD Access-a-Ride
customers living in the eligible ZIP codes. To take part:

*	Email  <mailto:paratransiteligibility at rtd-denver.com>
paratransiteligibility at rtd-denver.com to let RTD know of a desire to enroll
in the program.
*	Customers will be emailed a link to a form to complete, to confirm
interest in participating in the program and agree to terms of service. 
*	Once that form has been completed, customer information will be sent
to Uber, which will send an email inviting customers to confirm
participation with RTD.
*	Access-a-Ride administrative staff can field additional questions
between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at 303-299-2847.

"We are thrilled to partner with Denver RTD to provide on-demand public
transit to even more riders in the Mile High metropolitan region," said
David Reich, head of Uber Transit. "With this launch, Denver is the first
city in the world to launch Uber Transit Journey Planning and transit
ticketing in the Uber app while also leveraging Uber's software to provide
the most equitable, connected and accessible transportation possible."

RTD and Uber Transit's previous world-first collaborations benefiting Denver
metro customers both took place in 2019. Journey Planning allows customers
to use Uber to plan transit trips with real-time information and end-to-end
directions, and transit ticketing enables them to seamlessly purchase
tickets and ride RTD services - all from the Uber app.

 

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Note that "Trips must begin or end in four pilot service ZIP codes: 80013,
80014, 80015 and 80016." Also, to benefit from this service, a person must
be able to use the Uber app on whatever smart device is available to
him/her. Also note that the trips are only available at what RTD calls "peak
service hours on weekdays (6-9 a.m. and 2-5 p.m.)."

 

Cordially,

 

Curtis Chong

 

 

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