BEST PRACTICES
RANSPORTATION OPTIONS ARE
growing, especially with the microtransit
opportunities provided by transportation
network companies like Lyft , which
can provide same-day, on-demand and/or
advance scheduled rides as an alternative
to available conventional public transportation.
As a public transit agency, the
Regional Transportation Commission of
Southern Nevada wants to stay ahead of
the curve and integrate modern transportation
solutions to keep our 64 million
annual passenger trips moving effi ciently.
We wanted to fi nd better ways to eff ectively
transport customers and enhance
their experience while saving money to
reinvest back into our system.
In an eff ort to provide more
accessible, fl exible and cost-effi cient
residential transit services, the RTC recently
launched a pilot program called
Ride On-Demand with Lyft , the fastest
growing rideshare company in the
United States, for a small select group
of Paratransit riders. Th e Lyft pilot
program will allow up to 200 Paratransit
customers the ability to enjoy more fl exible
service and to be more spontaneous by
scheduling rides on demand, something
they previously could not do.
For the fi rst time in Southern
Nevada, Ride On-Demand will provide
traditional Paratransit customers with a
same-day option. Both ADA and non-
ADA service are provided. Lyft educates
its drivers on how to assist passengers with
collapsible wheelchairs as well as low-vision
and hard-of-hearing/deaf clients to
ensure the highest quality of service.
Rides can be scheduled directly
through the Lyft app. Customers without
38 | Mass Transit | MassTransitmag.com | JUNE 2018
access to a smartphone or require
a wheelchair accessible vehicle can call
RTC Customer Care seven days a week
from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. to request a ride
via the program. SafeRide Health’s
SafeRiderManager System provides a
digital platform for the RTC to schedule
rides directly onto the Lyft platform.
Not only does this pilot program
enhance the customer experience, but
it also allows us to save money that we
can reinvest back into our transit system.
While Paratransit passengers only
pay $3 per trip, it costs the RTC an
average of $32 for a one-way trip. Th e pilot
program provides increased fl exibility for
customers, but it does not increase passenger
costs. In most cases, the customer
continues to pay $3 one way.
Th e RTC subsidizes the ride up to
$15 each way, and if the ride costs more
than $18 total, the client has the option
to pay the remaining balance or cancel
the ride and use their Paratransit
existing service.
Tina Quigley
702.676.1500
@RTCSNV
STABLISHING RELATIONSHIPS
with the best providers is a critical step
to improving paratransit effi ciencies
and off ering a variety of mobility solutions.
First Transit is the contractor for
GRTC’s CARE and CARE Plus services,
which provide public transportation access
to individuals with disabilities who
may not be reasonably able to use fi xedroute
service. First Transit assists with
on-site management, corporate support,
safety and training implementation, and
operations oversight.
Technology plays an essential role
in improving effi ciencies. GRTC uses
Routematch soft ware for scheduling
and support. Collaborating with
Routematch enabled GRTC to improve
system speed and ensure ADA-compliant
scheduling parameters for booking
trips. As a result, we group more trips
going to common destinations together
and do not schedule trips lasting more
than 90 minutes.
Soon, CARE and CARE Plus
customers will also have the option to pay
for trips using a preloaded card. When
boarding, riders will tap the preloaded
card at a validator and ride.
GRTC also implemented a oneyear
pilot program in August 2017
called CARE On-Demand. GRTC
partners with UZURV and Roundtrip
to provide CARE customers with
additional service options, such as
scheduling a same-day, direct, nonstop
trip anywhere within the GRTC
CARE Service area. Our mission is to
provide clean, safe and reliable transportation
and to improve mobility and access.
Jonathan Owens
Jonathan.owens@ridegrtc.com
linkedin.com/in/jonathan-m-owens
Paratransit Innovation
& Efficiency
Industry leaders share their experience on innovative
programs for providing paratransit services, as well as
ways in which they improved their operation’s effi ciency.
Jonathan
Owens
Marketing
& Public
Relations
Specialist
GRTC Transit
System
E
T Tina Quigley
General
Manager
Regional
Transportation
Commission
of Southern
Nevada (RTC)
Las Vegas, Nev.
Richmond, Va.
/MassTransitmag.com
/jonathan-m-owens
link