PSTA, Uber Offer Free, Late-Night Rides For Low-Income Residents

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL – Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority and Uber inked a new deal that will provide transportation options to disadvantaged residents in Pinellas County when regular bus service ends, according to officials.

The one-year pilot program, called TD Late Shift, is funded by a $300,000 grant awarded by the Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged and is aimed at helping low-income, unemployed residents overcome transportation barriers to employment.

With this new program, riders can request up to 23 free rides per month between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., organizers said.

Rides must be to a place of employment or residence.

This is the latest collaboration between the PSTA and Uber. “We are solving age-old transportation barriers with technology, innovation and Uber,” said Brad Miller, PSTA Chief Executive Officer. “This is what the future of transportation in Pinellas County looks like. It’s multimodal, high-tech, and on-demand.”

PSTA was the largest of five grant recipients chosen, according to transit officials. The goal of this specific pilot is to develop and implement a model that can be replicated statewide and show a need for more robust funding of similar programs long-term, they said.

“Expected outcomes go beyond simply providing rides to customers during non-service hours,” said Miller. “We are hopeful to be able to show a direct local economic impact by creating new opportunities for unemployed residents who were previously unable to get jobs because of a lack of transportation.”

PSTA first publicized its relationship with Uber earlier this year when the two transportation providers launched Direct Connect, a six-month pilot program that connects people to bus stops for a subsidized rate. Now, PSTA is expanding that program to span across the entire county offering unlimited, on-demand Uber and Taxi rides for approximately $1.

To learn more about the services offered by PSTA, or for schedule and fare information, passengers can call the PSTA InfoLine at (727) 540-1900, or visit www.psta.net.

• Also see: How To Score Free Chicken Tenders Next Week In St. Petersburg, Pinellas Co. Area