Uber & Mass Transit

[JPS1]

Overmod

 In case you hadn't noticed, there is a substantial part of DART's service area that is not actually served by rail, and this is what the rideshare program addresses more effectively. 

In 2019 – latest data – DART’s light rail system accounted for 40 percent of its riders.   Buses accounted for 55 percent, commuter rail 3 percent, vanpools 1 percent, and para transit 1percent. 

 

The light rail system is concentrated along a few corridors in the Metroplex, sometimes referred to by my friends in East Texas as the Metromess.  A significant percentage of the light rail system riders drive from areas outside of its footprint to one of the park and ride lots, where they board the light rail to go downtown or an intermediate station.    

[Overmod]

In case you hadn't noticed, there is a substantial part of DART's service area that is not actually served by rail, and this is what the rideshare program addresses more effectively.

[Gramp]

Transporting people hasn't been a lucrative endeavor long term.

Scramble on. 

[Former Car Maintainer]

Uber is highly competitive to rail in high density urban transit (two to three station hops) and less so in interurban transit situations..At least it was that way before California deemed them employees..

[JPS1]

daveklepper

 Uber can benefit public transportation by providing a better link between home and station. 

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) signed a contract with Uber in March 2019 to provide shared rides in six zones in DART’s service area, including the Inland Port in southern Dallas and Legacy West in Plano. The rides will be subsidized by DART.

 

The service will be pooled as opposed to a single ride.  It will match riders headed in the same direction.

 

The estimated cost of the one-year contract is $1.5 million.  DART will pay approximately half the cost; the other half will come from U.S. DOT funds.

 

DART’s motive for signing the contract, at least in part, is due to declining ridership.  For example, between 2016 and 2018 bus ridership fell by 10.4 percent.  Light rail ridership declined 2.6 percent. 

[daveklepper]

Uber can benefit public transportation by providing a better link between home and station.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

That is assuming that Uber doesn't run out of money before driverless cars are perfected and they don't have to pay drivers.

[NKP guy]

   Here's an interesting article outlining Uber's plans for the near and long term future.  They want to be "the Amazon of transportation."  Note the implications for commuter rail systems.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/07/technology/uber-train-bus-public-transit.html