A Review of Partnerships between Transportation Network Companies and Public Agencies in the United States

This paper summarizes the status of twenty-nine partnerships between transportation network companies (TNCs) and public bodies around the United States designed to improve mobility. The analysis focuses on initiatives that involve (or have involved) ridesharing services and excludes partnerships with microtransit operators. For each of the 29 partnerships observed, the research team evaluated when the programs were active, how the programs were financially structured, and audits of program performance. The results show that 11 of the 50 largest transit agencies in the United States (measured by annual unlinked trips) have developed partnerships promoting synergy with ridesharing, primarily with Lyft and Uber. Two of the largest 10, Metropolitan Boston Transportation Authority and Philadelphia’s Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, have provided direct financial support for certain TNC trips through specialized programs. The analysis suggests, however, that more cities and transit agencies will explore options for partnerships in the next several years, including those improving paratransit service. The integration of fares for trips involving transit/TNC connections is a logical next step in the development of partnerships. The lack of formal analysis of the performance of most initiatives, nevertheless, stands as a significant barrier to the refinement of the strategies being used.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AP020 Standing Committee on Emerging and Innovative Public Transport and Technologies.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  ,    
• Authors:
  • Schwieterman, Joseph Paul
  • Livingston, Mallory
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 98th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2019-1-13 to 2019-1-17
• Date: 2019

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 20p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Mobility; Public private partnerships; Ridesharing; Ridesourcing; Transit operating agencies
• Identifier Terms: Lyft; Metropolitan Boston Transit Authority; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority; Uber
• Geographic Terms: Boston (Massachusetts); Philadelphia (Pennsylvania); United States
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Operations and Traffic Management; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01697558
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 19-04647
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Mar 1 2019 3:51PM