Los Angeles Taps Via Shuttles to Bridge Public Transit Gap
Los Angeles launches a $2.5 million pilot program with Via to provide on-demand shared rides to three major transit stations. The initiative aims to solve the first- and last-mile problem that contributes to declining public transit ridership.
Los Angeles partners with on-demand shuttle service Via for a year-long pilot program that transports passengers to and from three busy public transit stations. The $2.5 million initiative targets the Artesia, El Monte, and North Hollywood stations to solve the first- and last-mile problem that prevents people from easily accessing public transportation.
Via uses an algorithm to book multiple passengers heading in the same direction into a single shared vehicle that carries three to six riders. This approach aims to combat decreasing public transit ridership by bringing the dynamic, on-demand features of ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft directly to the public transit system.
Rides cost $3.75 for the general public, $1.75 for TAP card holders, and are completely free for users registered in Metro’s low-income subsidy programs. The pilot is funded in part by a $1.35 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration, and Via currently operates similar consumer-facing shuttles and city partnerships in New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., and the United Kingdom.