Partnerships between Agencies and Transportation Network Companies for Transportation-Disadvantage Populations: Benefits, Problems, and Challenges

Abstract

Transportation network companies (TNCs), such as Uber and Lyft, offer a new mobility option to consumers. An increasing number of transit agencies work with TNCs, and different types of partnerships have formed. While these service models may serve the general population well, their implications for transportation-disadvantage populations, including older adults, individuals with disabilities, and low-income people, have not received enough attention. These populations are highly dependent on public transit services. Additionally, we have limited firsthand knowledge of challenges that hinder transit agencies and related human service agencies from building partnerships with TNCs. Can these agency/TNC partnerships accommodate the needs of transportation-disadvantage populations? This study explores these issues through a literature review and interviews with 16 related organizations in the State of Florida, where transportation-disadvantage populations are served through a coordinated system but the partnerships with TNCs are still limited. The paper first categorizes the existing agency/TNC partnership service models into three types and examines their benefits and problems in serving transportation-disadvantage populations. It then identifies different organizations’ perceptions of TNCs and the challenges for some agencies to work with TNCs. The general challenges include difficulty in estimating service demand, data sharing problems, hidden costs and staff efforts, training and safety issues, and the need of complementary vendors. The challenges specifically in rural areas are a lack of motivation and commitment among TNCs, affordability issues, and TNCs’ adaptation to the rural geography. These challenges in agency/TNC partnerships need to be addressed to serve the public better, including transportation-disadvantage populations.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Food and Nutrition Security among Older Adults: A Qualitative Perspective

“…As observed in our results, older adults faced distinct problems related to transportation to markets and grocery stores as facility transportation services were limited, and neighbors and friends were more apprehensive about sharing a vehicle with others due to fear of contracting COVID-19. Similarly, prior qualitative studies related to the difficulties faced by the older adults and individuals with disabilities during the pandemic included fear of getting sick, which resulted in reduced frequency of food purchases and trips to the supermarket [31].…”

“…The pandemic has also greatly affected transportation, especially among individuals with disabilities. In Florida, 28% of adults have some disability [30], and the prevalence is even higher among older adults [31]. Access to transportation is essential given its importance for carrying out activities of daily living.…”

Transportation Equity Quantification and Related Issues and Challenges

“…Various private companies such as Uber and Lyft have used legal loopholes in order to dodge responsibilities with accessibility which shows how equity is viewed as a burden by businesses in a capitalist economy (Wang et al, 2021). Their rise has coincided with a decrease in transit ridership (Steiner et al, 2021). Dealing with this is a concern as there is a large contingent who views private industry driving with minimal regulation to be the ideal.…”

“…Dealing with this is a concern as there is a large contingent who views private industry driving with minimal regulation to be the ideal. There have been efforts to use partnerships between transit agencies and these companies to reach disadvantaged groups and makeup budget shortfalls, but there are significant challenges to this and the very real concern that they are merely replacing cheaper forms of transit and driving them out (Steiner et al, 2021).…”

The complementary effect of ride-sharing on public transit: evidence from a natural experiment

“…A good example is a pilot program Los Angeles Metro launched in 2019 in partnership with Via to subsidize rides for commuters who use ridesharing to and from transit stations, which was supported by $1.35m in funding from the Federal Transit Administration and extended in 2020 (Via, 2020). Such partnerships, using technology-enabled ride-sharing platforms as a complement, have the potential to improve public transit services to serve a broader range of customers and travel demands (Steiner et al, 2021), increase ridership and improve service quality, especially for the elderly, disabled, low-income and rural populations (Lucken et al, 2019). However, if not implemented carefully, such partnerships will not deliver the desired results and may even compete with existing public transit services (Lucken et al, 2019).…”