Via and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) have launched a pilot program LGA Connect, a new flat-rate shared ride service from LaGuardia Airport to all five boroughs.
Via and PANYNJ aim to reduce private vehicle trips from the airport with the introduction of congestion-reducing, convenient and affordable shared rides as part of public transit.
“As the leader in vehicle utilization in New York City, we are proud to partner with the Port Authority to integrate Via’s technology and experience in shared rides into public transit through LGA Connect,” said Daniel Ramot, co-founder and CEO of Via. “Shared rides have the power to alleviate the heavy congestion experienced at LaGuardia Airport, while allowing New Yorkers to travel into the city in a convenient and affordable way.”
Powered by Via’s technology for on-demand shared rides, LGA Connect provides travelers full transparency and price consistency with $15 flat-rate rides booked from LaGuardia to Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, and $20 to Staten Island and the Bronx.
More than 30 million travelers flew through LaGuardia Airport last year, and more than 90 percent of those travelers used private vehicles, individual taxis and similar methods of travel that contribute to stagnating traffic, according to Via. The Via and PANYNJ pilot represents an opportunity for the public and private sectors to work together to introduce a solution that could reduce congestion and expand access to a new form of public transit at New York City’s highly-trafficked airports.
“This pilot with Via builds on two Port Authority priorities: customer experience and sustainability,” said Rick Cotton, executive director, PANYNJ. “We are in the peak of construction of an entirely new airport with the high-volume holiday travel season now upon us. Since the agency is constantly looking for ways to reduce congestion and improve the LaGuardia experience, we welcome Via’s LGA Connect service which offers LaGuardia travelers a sustainable, affordable option to reach their final destinations in all five boroughs, including travel public transit hubs.”
How it works
LGA Connect rides can be booked 7 days a week between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 a.m. with a credit card through the Via app, or with the help of a dispatcher at a designated “LGA Connect” pickup point outside of Terminal C/D. In the Via app, passengers select “LGA Connect” from the menu, and enter their desired destination. Via’s algorithm matches multiple passengers headed in the same direction into a single vehicle and provides passengers with vehicle identification information and an ETA. Rides depart within 10 minutes, and passengers will be dropped off at a nearby corner within walking distance of their destination.
Via’s pilot program with PANYNJ is the next step in the company’s vision to evolve public mobility across the globe with smart, shared technology solutions. LGA Connect follows closely on the heels of the announcement that Via will launch an on-demand public bus service in partnership with the city of Jersey City and is a complement to Via’s consumer business that was born in New York City in 2013.
