The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) is expanding a partnership with ride-sharing services Uber and Lyft from an initial small pilot area to span across Pinellas County.
- 6-month program will launch in mid-December
- PSTA will provide discounts per trip under program
The PSTA Board of Directors unanimously approved new contracts with Uber and United Taxi, and, for the first time, the ridesharing service Lyft.
Branded as "Direct Connect," the second pilot program is designed to give low-cost Uber, Lyft, or taxi rides to designated bus stops to allow more citizens access to PSTA's primary bus lines.
"The national recognition we received as being one of the most innovative transit systems with our Uber partnership has been great,” said PSTA CEO Brad Miller. “Our real focus continues to be how we can use these new technologies to benefit our thousands of transit customers."
The 6-month program will officially launch in mid-December. Riders will pay an average of $1 to use the program to travel to the nearest designated bus stop, where they’ll continue to their destinations on the bus.
PSTA is providing a $5 discount per trip under the program.
Five companies were approved to provide this service: Uber, Lyft, United Taxi, Care Ride and Wheelchair Transport.