First/Last Mile Partnership with TNC, Taxi and Wheelchair...

Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) St. Petersburg, Florida

International Demand Response Transportation Conference

Breckenridge, Colorado, USA September 27, 2016

First/Last Mile Partnership with TNC, Taxi and Wheelchair Van

Presenter: Ross Silvers, Mobility Manager

Mobility Management Journey

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• Metro region with Lowest Average Salary • Top 3 Most Dangerous for Pedestrians • Totally built-out county with low-level density. • 2014 Referendum Loss = No Rail, No BRT, Few

Choice Riders, poor headways & span of service • C • Time for New Model

Mobility Management Journey

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• Policy Changes • Direct Connect Pilot • Direct Connect Expansion • Transportation Disadvantaged Late Shift • ADA Paratransit Alternatives

Opening the Door to Innovation

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Direct Connect Model

• Leverage emerging technology

• Provide reliable affordable alternatives

• Preserve network connectivity

• Operational Subsidy: • PSTA subsidizes 50% of the ride

up to $3.00 o Must begin or end at one of

two designated stops o Must remain within the

pilot (town) boundary

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Opening the Door to Innovation

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Marketing, Marketing, Marketing

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• UBER • Uber Ambassadors educated bus

riders at transfer center • Direct email to users based on Uber

app usage within the pilot area • App Splash Page pops in pilot area

• PSTA • Website splash page • Signage at designated stop locations • Direct texts to PSTA subscribers • Social Networks

Marketing, Marketing, Marketing

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Results… So Far

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Results… So Far

• National Media Attention • Inspiring new partnerships • Opening doors to new opportunities • Observations/experiences are

supported by APTA Shared Use Mobility Survey (March 2016)

• Uber now replicating with many

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Expansion – October 2016

• Improving Impact Analysis to gauge fixed route transfers

• Expanding Provider Choices: Lyft & Uber Under Same Umbrella

• Incentivizing ADA paratransit riders

• 3 mile trip costs rider < $1 • Broader Boundaries, Bigger Budget

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• Begin or end at one of 21 stops countywide

• Can go to any stop from anywhere in county

• Mon-Sat 7am – 7pm • Up to $5 towards trip • Back-to-back trips

prohibited

Expansion – October 2016

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• State TD Commission Grant began July 2016 • Using the Direct Connect model to get lowest

wage 2nd & 3rd shifters overnight work trips • Prove replicability to other counties in Florida

Transportation Disadvantaged (TD)

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FREE RIDES!!! 7AM- 7PM Once a Month Urgent Rides

Must be registered TD customer 1 free ride/month through PSTA dispatch PSTA staff will confirm eligibility of customer and need First agency in nation to use Uber Central platform

• FREE RIDES!!! 9PM- 6AM • $3 Urgent Day Rides

– Must be registered TD customer – 1 ride/month dispatched in real

time by PSTA staff – Uber said PSTA will be first

transit to use Uber Central

• Technology access limits Uber usage, human factors limit taxi

TD -- July 2016

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• Issues at Federal, State and Local levels • ADA Equitable Service • Background Checks & Vehicle Maintenance • Drug and Alcohol Testing • Local ordinance inconsistences across 24

municipalities • Counting rides – NTD Reporting and Uber Data

Sharing • Local political leadership

Policy and Other Challenges

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What’s Next?