Although there are individual transit agencies that include ride-sharing, car-sharing and using taxis in their mix of services, they are often used (or justified) as ancillary support services to fixed route operations. The irony is that these services, if well funded, marketed and coordinated, could benefit many more Americans than who can realistically use fixed-route services in their communities.(1)

New mobility services are “force multipliers” for public transportation. Increasing ride-sharing, car-sharing, and taxis use private assets to increase community mobility. The public transit agency will likely gain ridership the more integrated the mix of mobility services. A common smartcard to pay for rides from all operators is ideal. Using a 511 information system (phone number, website, trip planner and trip reservation system) is also practical. These concepts are scalable for rural to large urban systems. I do not under estimate the challenges to developing integrated mobility, but the potential pay-off in terms increasing affordable mobility choices for the public should provide economic (and political) benefits for innovators.

I have three questions:

1. Does your organization’s strategic vision for public transportation include new mobility services?(2) If yes, are they of primary or secondary importance?

2. Are you using planning processes (e.g. the Coordinated Public Transit - Human Service Transportation plan, transit development plan, or a MPO’s long range transportation plan) to develop an integrated community mobility strategy?

3. Are you developing mobility management projects to implement new services? (For FTA Section 5311 subrecipients, will your state DOT approve mobility management projects as 5311 capital projects?)

Finally, since we are in a time of crisis (climate change-peak oil-congestion), there is opportunity for leadership at all levels. There should be a compelling sense of urgency and need for action. What do you see from your vantage point?

1. Except for New York City.
2. Google or wikipedia “New Mobility” for definitions.

A participating taxicab comes to the resuce by accepting the stranded transit patron’s fare medium—i.e. a stored value swipe card, monthly pass, or standard charge card. Wi-Fi can validate the transaction. The cab driver can hand-write a receipt or print with a portable printer.

It’s a win-win-win. Transit keeps a patron because the rider knows he or she won’t miss a ride. Taxis get more fares. Patrons don’t have to carry wads of cash.

Also, this would be a boon to welfare-to-work people who too often are shut out of employment opportunities due to lack of transit to major employment centers. In addition, these employees can miss overtime opportunities because they have to catch the last bus home. Not anymore, if an intermodal Wi_Fi-driven system were in place.

Obviously, there are significant infrastructure and business details that need to be in place before the process can start; but I am confident that open-mindedness in transit executives, taxi operators, and local policymakers can make it happen.