On-street success: more than 28,000 Arlington RAPID trips booked during first year of on-demand AV public transportation service

RAPID selected to receive additional funding to continue to integrate AVs into existing Via Arlington service, further expanding access to efficient, safe and equitable on-demand public transportation

March 18, 2022 (Arlington) — Arlington RAPID, the first program in the United States to integrate on-demand, autonomous vehicles (AVs) into an existing public transportation service, has provided more than 28,000 trips in its first year to residents, university students, and visitors around Downtown and The University of Texas at Arlington campus.

Arlington is excited to announce that the innovative autonomous vehicle pilot program will expand service later this year and continue to provide convenient, dependable public transportation in the heart of The American Dream City through at least 2024 thanks to additional grant support from the North Central Texas Council of Governments.

Since March 2021, the City has operated Arlington RAPID (Rideshare, Automation, and Payment Integration Demonstration) in partnership with Via, May Mobility, and UT Arlington through a grant provided by the Federal Transit Administration. The pilot program offers shared rides in autonomous vehicles, operated by May Mobility, through Arlington’s on-demand public transit system, Via Arlington. With a 98% rider satisfaction rating, it’s clear that the Arlington community embraced the pilot program.

Arlington RAPID, which is the City’s third successful autonomous vehicle transportation pilot project since 2017, was one of only 25 projects to receive funding in 2020 through the FTA’s Integrated Mobility Innovation Program. Deployment funded by the grant ends today, March 18.

“The City of Arlington continues to prove itself as a national leader on autonomous vehicle testing and deployment,” Arlington Mayor Jim Ross. “Thanks to the FTA’s Integrated Mobility Innovation grant, the City and its partners were able to build upon the country’s vital autonomous vehicle research and improve access to school, work and every day needs for thousands of people, including those who require mobility assistance, through on-demand public transportation access.”

Arlington RAPID’s fleet of autonomous vehicles, including the wheelchair-accessible vehicle, will continue to be available to riders through the Via app or by calling Via’s customer service line at 817- 784-7382. Beginning Monday, March 21, the new hours will be noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. The service was previously available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The original goal of the RAPID project was to provide a blueprint for combining on-demand public transit and autonomous technologies to develop effective, efficient, safe and accessible transportation for all riders.

The RAPID service area is currently bounded by Division Street to the north, Mary Street to the east, Mitchell Street to the south, and Davis Drive to the west. In all, more than 18 miles of Downtown streets have been mapped for the vehicles to take the most efficient path to pick up and drop off riders. During the first year of service, Arlington RAPID reported a 99% on-time performance and the vehicles were able to operate fully autonomously 80% of the time.

First year results show that more than 60% of riders use RAPID to access essential destinations like medical facilities, school or employment opportunities, which demonstrates the success of the service as part of the existing on-demand public transit network, to fill critical transportation gaps and expand equitable access to transit across the city.

“Arlington RAPID demonstrates how innovation and investment in the future of public transit are critical to advance equity in our communities,” said Daniel Ramot, co-founder and CEO of Via. “We are proud to continue our long-term relationship with the City of Arlington in the next phase of the RAPID program, and to be a model for other municipalities as they consider autonomous vehicles as a new option to improve public transportation access.”

This month, the North Central Texas Council of Governments awarded the City a new grant through its autonomous vehicle program, which seeks to support and expand AV planning, testing, and deployment in the region. Arlington’s project is one of four selected for funding in the program’s second round. The grant will allow RAPID to operate for two additional years, as well as adding vehicles with higher seating capacity and technology to move toward removing the human operator.

“May Mobility and Arlington share a commitment to creating great transit through shared, on-demand autonomous vehicles,” said Edwin Olson, CEO of May Mobility. “May is excited to continue serving the Arlington community, and the learnings from this successful deployment will not only help advance our AV technology, but also enhance our service offerings at future sites around the world.”

Via’s standard fares apply to rides taken on Arlington RAPID by the general public. Because of UTA’s participation in the pilot program and using dedicated funds from the FTA grant, the university’s students had been able to book rides on Arlington RAPID at no charge. The new discounted rate for UTA students is $1 off the standard fare per trip.

“UTA continues to provide cutting-edge mobility services to support our student’s transportation needs,” said Greg Hladik, executive director for Auxiliary Services at UTA. “It was very promising to watch how the student body responded to these self-driving shuttles and adopted them for their daily travel needs within the service zone. This pilot has taught us there are several applications on a college campus to incorporate self-driving technology into the traditional campus mobility network.”

For more information about Arlington RAPID, please visit www.arlingtontx.gov/rapid.

About Via

Via builds innovative software to enable our customers—cities, transit agencies, transport operators, school districts, universities, and corporations—to transform their legacy transportation systems into advanced digital networks. As pioneers of the TransitTech category, Via’s mission is to expand access to efficient, affordable, and sustainable transportation. Via’s software enables organizations to digitize their existing transportation networks and launch new and innovative services, simultaneously lowering operating costs and increasing quality of service. Our software is used in over 500 communities in more than 35 countries around the world.

The proposal, Ulster Connect, has been awarded a Phase One grant through the New York Clean Transportation Prizes’ “Clean Neighborhoods Challenge.” Ulster County would be one of the only Counties in the State to offer on-demand, electric microtransit

March 14, 2022 (Ulster County, NY) — Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan announced today that a proposal to bring affordable, convenient, electric microtransit, on-demand through a mobile app, to Kingston and Ellenville has been selected as a Phase One Awardee in a statewide grant program. The proposal, Ulster Connect, has been awarded a Phase One grant through the New York Clean Transportation Prizes’ “Clean Neighborhoods Challenge.” The proposal is a joint initiative between Ulster County, Sustainable Hudson Valley, Family of Woodstock, and Via, the global leader in TransitTech, and will be the first mobility service of its kind in the county.

“Ulster County is excited to partner with Via to provide residents of the county access to clean, on-demand, electric transit,” County Executive Pat Ryan said. “Our innovative proposal has moved to the next round and we are one step closer to providing quick, efficient, and energy-smart transit to residents in the Kingston and Ellenville areas.”

“Via is proud to partner with Ulster County, a recognized leader for sustainability in New York State, to use our TransitTech software to expand access to mobility in underserved communities,” Head of Public Policy at Via Andrei Greenawalt said. “Via will work with Ulster County and community partners to ensure clean, affordable, and convenient transportation is available to those who need it most.”

Within the Ulster Connect microtransit app, Via’s intelligent algorithms will enable riders to book a ride to a location within the Kingston and Ellenville region, and then direct them to a “virtual bus stop” within a short walking distance – allowing for quick, efficient shared trips that provide more flexibility than traditional public transit fixed routes and schedules. To underscore Ulster County’s commitment to accessibility, riders without smartphones will be able to book a ride through phoning a call center.

In addition to the electrified microtransit service, the Ulster Connect program will also leverage community perspectives to inform the development of a smartphone app to make it easier for residents to plan and book efficient travel itineraries that use multiple modes of sustainable transportation (such as Ulster Connect, bikeshare, and existing electrified buses).

The Clean Transportation Prizes is supported by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and aims to fund programs that electrify transportation, reduce air pollution, and enhance clean mobility for disadvantaged communities in New York State. As one of 17 projects announced through Phase One of the competition, Ulster Connect is eligible to compete for up to $85 million in grand prizes under Phase Two. The project proposal will receive a Phase One award package of up to $200,000, including a $100,000 planning grant for further proposal development, up to $50,000 in funding for community partners, and up to $50,000 in in-kind support from technical experts.

Ulster Connect will be able to compete for a final grand prize for the Clean Neighborhoods Challenge, which will award up to three $10 million grand prizes through Phase Two to innovative projects that address air pollution reduction at scale in underserved communities. As selected project teams finalize their proposals, they will prepare for a pitch competition to be held in the summer of 2022 with grand prize winners expected to be announced in late summer 2022.

Last month, Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan announced that Ulster County Area Transit (UCAT) put its first three electric buses on the road, which were purchased with funding from the New York Truck Voucher Incentive Program (NYTVIP), administered by New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA). The addition of three electric buses brings the number of green vehicles in Ulster County’s fleet to approximately 9% – major progress towards the County’s aggressive Green Fleet policy goal of 20% green by 2025 – with nine more buses scheduled to be replaced with electric buses in the coming years.

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About Ulster County

Ulster County is geographically about the size of the state of Rhode Island. It’s 90 miles north of Manhattan, between the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains. We have 180,000 full-time residents plus an influx of visitors on the weekends. Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan, who is serving his third year in office, is a fifth-generation Ulster County resident. After graduating from Kingston High School, Pat attended West Point and served two combat tours in Iraq as an Army intelligence officer. After leaving the military, he founded a small technology company, which he grew to over 150 employees. Pat lives in Gardiner with his wife, Rebecca, and their two sons, Theo and Cameron, and their two rescue cats.

About Via

With RegioFlink, two on-demand vehicles will run as a supplement to existing public transport services, allowing greater convenience for locals and visitors in Wattens to connect with essential and leisure destinations

March 2, 2022 (Wattens, Austria) — On March 1, Via and VVT launched RegioFlink, the new public transport offering in Wattens, Austria. RegioFlink is a technology-based, on-demand transport service that only runs when and where it is needed, filling the gaps in existing public transport infrastructure. RegioFlink complements and extends VVT’s public transport network in a flexible and sustainable way.

RegioFlink is powered by software from Via, the global leader in TransitTech. Via’s intelligent algorithms allow RegioFlink passengers to book an on-demand ride by app or phone. It then directs them to a nearby “virtual bus stop” within a short walking distance for pick-up, and takes them to a stop close to their destination. This model allows for quick, efficient shared trips that provide more flexibility than traditional transportation options with fixed routes and schedules. Several passengers can share one vehicle, and wheelchair-accessible vehicles will be available.

VVT Managing Director Alexander Jug on the launch of the first on-demand transport in Tyrol: “RegioFlink is a flexible addition to the existing public transport system. This brings us another step closer to establishing a holistic mobility system and the possibility of reducing individual transport.”

The municipality of Wattens is treading innovative mobility paths for Tyrol together with VVT. Mayor Thomas Oberbeirsteiner is pleased to be the first municipality in Tyrol to offer this modern service as part of a pilot project: “Wattens is an innovative municipality. And because innovation means thinking about the future, I am very pleased that we are introducing Tyrol’s first RegioFlink with VVT. We need creative mobility offers to meet today’s requirements of sustainable mobility. We can now offer the population of Wattens, as well as people commuting to Wattens, a flexible and sustainable transport service for the last mile.”

Service times and costs

Regioflink runs in the entire municipal area of Wattens from Monday to Friday from 8:30 to 6:00. There are countless stops and two vehicles that will take passengers quickly and comfortably from A to B at a cost-saving public transport fare. In addition to the basic fare of € 1, there is a zone fare (adults € 1.30, senior citizens, young people, people with disabilities € 0.90, family € 1.30). For holders of a valid VVT ticket for Wattens, the zone fare does not apply. The zone tariff is generally waived for all journeys to and from Fritzens-Wattens station — this means that the RegioFlink journey only costs € 1 in this case, regardless of having a VVT ticket.

Bookings are made via app — uncomplicated and fast. With Via, which provides passenger and driver apps as well as the intelligent routing system, VVT has an advanced partner for on-demand solutions in public transport. The technology allows to bundle rides of different passengers in a particularly efficient and dynamic way.

“We are proud to partner with VVT to introduce Via’s on-demand public transportation platform into the Austrian market through the launch of RegioFlink, which uses software to expand access to affordable, flexible, and sustainable transportation for residents and tourists in Wattens,” said Chris Snyder, Via’s European CEO. “We look forward to working with VVT and Wattens to show how tech-enabled mobility can solve transportation challenges for other communities across Austria.”

Sustainable vision for the future

In addition to strengthening public transport, the long-term goal of VVT is to develop a holistic mobility system. Innovative, flexible mobility services such as RegioFlink complement traditional public transport networks through solving transportation access gaps in the first-and-last mile for passengers, ultimately incentivizing more passengers to use public transport versus private cars.

VVT Managing Director Alexander Jug sums it up: “The pilot project RegioFlink in Wattens will be continuously analyzed and evaluated over one whole year. Based on these learnings, we will be able to optimally prepare the basis for a further roll-out of RegioFlink in other municipalities in Tyrol. In our vision of the future, RegioFlink represents a sensible, flexible addition to the overall mobility concept of VVT — depending on the requirements of the respective municipality.”

ART On-Demand will leverage technology to expand access to efficient, flexible mobility for residents and visitors in St. Lucie County

March 1, 2022 (St. Lucie, FL) – St. Lucie County is proud to announce the launch of the new Area Regional Transit On-Demand (ART On-Demand) public transportation service, which for the first time will allow all residents and visitors to book free on-demand rides through an app within a designated zone in Port St. Lucie.

The goal of ART On-Demand is to expand access to efficient, equitable, and sustainable transportation in St. Lucie. The service’s software integration will make it easier than ever for riders to travel car-free and supports the region’s long-term commitment to innovation.

ART On-Demand will be powered by Via, the global leader in TransitTech. Via’s intelligent algorithms allow riders to book an on-demand ride – allowing for quick, efficient shared trips that provide more flexibility than traditional transportation options with fixed routes and schedules. To underscore St. Lucie’s commitment to accessibility, the service will include wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

Riders can book ART On-Demand rides in three easy ways:

Download the ART On-Demand app from the Apple or Google Play app store, set up your account, and book your trip.
Book online using a web browser from artondemand.app.ridewithvia.com
Call 772-462-1778 and a customer service representative will help you create an account and book your ride.

“It’s exciting to watch our transit system continue to evolve by offering our residents convenient ways to access free public transportation,” said St. Lucie County Commission Chair Sean Mitchell. “The more we embrace public transportation, the more we reduce the amount of vehicles on the roads and help keep our carbon-footprint smaller.”

“For several years, our citizens have told us that providing more mobility options should be a top priority in the city. As a result, the City Council made this an important part of the City’s Strategic Plan,” said Port St. Lucie Mayor Shannon Martin. “I am very pleased St. Lucie County’s Area Regional Transit is helping us achieve these priorities through the launch of this On-Demand program. This program will give all residents an innovative new option for moving around the city and county.”

“We’re excited to partner with St. Lucie to power ART On-Demand, which uses software to expand access to transportation in the area,” said Dillon Twombly, Chief Revenue Officer at Via. “Tech-enabled public transit services like this one represent 21st-century transportation, and we’re excited to see how ART On-Demand will make it easier for St. Lucie’s residents and visitors to connect with jobs, healthcare, education, leisure, and more.”

ART On-Demand will operate on Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. and on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Via’s software is used in more than 500+ communities around the globe, and includes several similar services to ART On-Demand elsewhere in Florida, including Sarasota County, Miami-Dade County and Palm Beach.

For more information on ART On-Demand, please visit: www.slcart.org.

ART On-Demand Service Zone:

About St. Lucie

Located in the heart of Florida’s Treasure Coast, St. Lucie County is home to more than 330,000 residents with a rich history from streaming back to the birthplace of the Navy SEALs and artistic grounds that produced painters such as A.E. “Bennie” Backus and the Florida Highwaymen. Administered by St. Lucie County’s Transit Division, ART is a fare-free, award-winning public transit system serving the cities of Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie, St. Lucie Village and the unincorporated areas of St. Lucie County. To learn more, please visit www.slcart.org or 772-462-1778.

About Via

The partnership signifies the first step in Motional and Via’s long-term vision to introduce networks of on-demand and shared robotaxis at scale in cities — with the ultimate goal of using autonomous vehicles (AVs) to expand the public’s access to safe, affordable, and sustainable transportation options

February 24, 2022 (Las Vegas, NV) — Motional, a global driverless technology leader, and Via, the global leader in TransitTech, today announce the launch of a new robotaxi service in Las Vegas, which will provide free self-driving rides to passengers in downtown Las Vegas. The partnership signifies the first step in Motional and Via’s long-term vision to introduce networks of on-demand and shared robotaxis at scale in cities — with the ultimate goal of using autonomous vehicles (AVs) to expand the public’s access to safe, affordable, and sustainable transportation options.

The service combines Via’s intelligent booking, routing, and software application technology with Motional’s self-driving robotaxis, fleet management, and in-vehicle passenger experience. Motional’s robotaxis are now available on the Via app for passengers in downtown Las Vegas, and will connect riders with business hubs, residential buildings, green spaces, government buildings, public transit stations, and more.

Motional and Via announced a partnership in 2020 created to connect riders with robotaxis at scale, and position AVs to reach their full potential as part of large-scale transit networks. Together, Motional and Via see autonomous vehicles as part of a connected transportation ecosystem, and believe this type of integration is critical to sustainable, inclusive mobility.

“At Via, we believe on-demand autonomous vehicles can play a huge role in expanding access to efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective transportation in our cities,” said Cariann Chan, SVP of Business at Via. “We are proud that our partnership with Motional will achieve this goal through connecting Las Vegas riders with essential destinations and transit hubs.”

“Motional is a leader in operating commercial robotaxi services and we’re excited to continue that legacy with Via,” said Abe Ghabra, Chief Operating Officer at Motional. “Our partnership offers a new channel for members of the public to experience safe and convenient self-driving rides, with a focus on effectively integrating Motional’s robotaxis with existing transit networks. We look forward to learning from this service and growing our collaboration with Via.”

The service operates 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT Monday to Friday, and will provide pick-ups and drop-offs in downtown Las Vegas (including RTC Bonneville Transit Center, Las Vegas City Hall, Container Park, Las Vegas Arts District, and Clark County Government Center). Riders can download the Via app for more information and to book a ride. For more information on requesting a ride, visit here.

For the latest on Motional, visit Motional.com/news, and for more information on Via, https://ridewithvia.com/.

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About Via:

About Motional

Motional is a driverless technology company making autonomous vehicles a safe, reliable, and accessible reality. The company formed in 2020 as a joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group, one of the world’s largest vehicle manufacturers offering smart mobility solutions, and Aptiv, a global industrial technology leader in advanced safety, electrification, and vehicle connectivity.

The Motional team has driven some of the driverless industry’s largest leaps forward, including the first fully-autonomous cross-country drive in the U.S, the launch of the world’s first robotaxi pilot, and operation of the world’s most-established public robotaxi fleet which has conducted over 100,000 public rides.

Motional is developing SAE Level 4 robotaxis- autonomous vehicles that provide all driving tasks – for robotaxi providers and fleet operators.

Headquartered in Boston, Motional has operations in the U.S and Asia. For more information,

visit www.Motional.com and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Feb. 11, 2022 (Arlington, TX) — It’s a deal that’s sweeter than a heart-shaped box of chocolates! To celebrate 1 million trips on Arlington’s Via Rideshare public transportation service, all rides will be free this Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, 2022.

Since 2017, Arlington’s on-demand, rideshare public transportation service has helped residents, students and visitors reach neighborhoods, shopping centers, offices, restaurants, medical facilities and other key destinations across The American Dream City. The service also helps riders get to and from the CentrePort TRE Station, where they can connect to Dallas, Fort Worth and beyond.Now in its fifth year, the service continues to provide an equitable and flexible on-demand transit offering that is free from fixed routes and schedules. Via’s platform routes passengers in real time to convenient pickup and drop off locations within just a couple blocks, enabling multiple passengers headed in the same direction to efficiently share a single vehicle.

Via Rideshare is available Monday through Saturday for those who need transportation out of convenience or necessity.

Here’s what some of customers had to say recently about why they choose Via:

“I’m not a frequent user, but as a senior citizen on fixed income, I have no other means of transportation and I occasionally need transportation to destinations too far to walk.”
“It is my source of transportation to and from work. I am legally blind and don’t drive.”
“We can’t have a car because of my husband’s dementia. Via is a life saver because I don’t have to wait for the schedules of others to give us a ride.”
“Via is great for students like me who need to commute for groceries and meet friends. It’s been a great help to me in this regard.”
“Via is an affordable way to get to doctor appointments and other places around town. Plus, my granddaughter uses Via every day to get home from school.”
“It is so convenient to be able to call Via when I travel from Dallas on TRE to CentrePort. Via makes my visit to the doctor or a store affordable.”

Riders can book a shared ride six days a week using a smartphone application or a dial-in phone number, 817-784-7382. The service operates from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays.

Fares are based on trip distance, with a minimum of $3 per trip for rides up to 1.5 miles in length and a maximum of $5 per ride for trips over 6 miles in length. Via Pass, a weekly pass that allows riders to take up to four trips per day, costs $25. Click here to visit the Arlington Via Rideshare webpage for more details.

About Via

January 18, 2022 (Waikato, New Zealand) — Hamilton Flex, a new tech-enabled, on-demand public transport system trialled over the weekend by Waikato Regional Council, has had positive feedback from passengers. Flex is powered by Via, the global leader in TransitTech.

The ride share service started operating on Friday and Saturday nights in the Hamilton CBD from 14 January, and in February will go to and from Hamilton Airport on weekdays.

Fifty-nine rides were booked over the weekend and feedback was great, with people commenting on the convenience, comfort and cleanliness of the vehicles, and friendliness of the drivers.

“This is a very different style of public transport and it’s been a long time in the making. We had hoped to roll it out sooner, but as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown we delayed the launch,” said Regional Connections Committee Chair and Waikato regional councillor Angela Strange.

“For people wanting to get to and from the CBD, we’re really excited to be able to provide an affordable option for people wanting a corner-to-corner service rather than only stopping at bus stops.

“The service will take people with a mobility impairment driveway-to-driveway – all you have to do is let us know when registering on the Flex app,” Cr Strange said.

The buses are smaller and have comfortable seats that are fitted with seatbelts and can carry 13 passengers, or 10 people and a wheelchair user.

Bookings can be made up to a week in advance of travel, or just 15 minutes before you’re ready to go, Cr Strange said. The buses are GPS tracked in real time, so you can track your ride in the Flex app.

Via is a global provider of ride services and transportation technology for transit agencies and companies. “We are proud to partner with Waikato Regional Council to launch an efficient, sustainable on-demand transportation system in Hamilton,” said Ben Hague, Via’s APAC Regional Manager. “As someone who grew up in Hamilton, I know first-hand that the new Flex service will be an incredible addition to the city, by making it convenient for residents and visitors to use public transport and ultimately, rely less on private cars. Hamilton is a regional leader in innovative mobility, and we’re excited to see how other communities in New Zealand adopt smart on-demand transport.”

For the rest of January, Flex will operate for free on Fridays and Saturdays between 6pm and 4am. Then, from February, for just $2 each way you can ride from anywhere within the Hamilton city boundary to the CBD for the pubs, restaurants, nightclubs, casino, live music, sporting events, ten pin bowling or the movies.

Getting from Hamilton to the airport will cost only $3 each way on Flex, which operates Monday to Friday from 10am-4pm between the Hamilton Transport Centre and Hamilton Airport.

Mark Morgan, Hamilton Airport Chief Executive said: “We’re very supportive of making the airport more accessible to a wider range of our travelling public. So it’s great to see another transport option available to get to and from the airport.”

Cr Strange said Bee Card machines would be available on the buses later in 2022. “Once this happens, we’ll be able to provide Bee Card concessionary travel on Flex, including SuperGold, university and Wintec fares and free accessibility concession travel.

“It means passengers will have the choice of paying either via the app or with their Bee Card on board – they just set their preference in the app.”

Passengers are required to wear a face covering and scan the QR codes on board the buses. The app is free and available from the App Store and Google Play – search Flex BUSIT.

About Via

January 20, 2022 (Milwaukee) – City of Milwaukee residents have a new way to get to jobs in the northwest suburbs – and employers have a new way to attract and retain workers.

FlexRide Milwaukee launches in early February, with riders picked up from one of five stops served by the Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) in and around Milwaukee’s north and northwest sides and dropped off at any employer within the Menomonee Falls and Butler service areas. Riders – who must be at least 18 years old, City of Milwaukee residents, and working or willing to work within the service areas – can request pickups using a smartphone app or by phone.

Riders must register to use the service. To do so, they can fill out this form to determine eligibility and share basic information with the FlexRide team.

While registration is not required for employers, businesses and organizations with more than 10 employees in Menomonee Falls and Butler that employ or intend to employ City of Milwaukee residents are also encouraged to sign up for FlexRide. Those interested in participating in the pilot should contact Eric Lynde at elynde@sewrpc.org.

FlexRide’s goal is to use technology to close Milwaukee’s first- and last-mile transit gaps (the distance between an existing bus stop and one’s ultimate destination). Closing transit gaps can expand access to transportation for local workers, ultimately fostering opportunities for economic mobility.

The service is a pilot funded by a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, received in the fall of 2021. Via, the global leader in TransitTech and a provider of on-demand mobility solutions, will power the service using its highly efficient technology platform. Via’s intelligent algorithms create quick and efficient shared trips that provide more flexibility for riders than traditional transport options, which have fixed routes and schedules.

For now, the service will operate through the fall of 2022. The project team aims to leverage the pilot to identify funding to continue the service beyond this time.

“We are excited to be collaborating with our partners on a technology-driven solution to a longstanding problem for our region – access to jobs,” Kevin Muhs, executive director of the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, said. “Lack of transportation is too often a barrier for workers wanting to get to jobs and employers wanting to attract new employees, made worse during the pandemic. This is one step toward closing that gap and making us stronger as a region.”

Employ Milwaukee is leading efforts to sign up riders.

“We encourage anyone who currently works in one of the service areas – or is hoping to – to consider signing up for FlexRide,” said Chytania Brown, president and CEO of Employ Milwaukee. “As Milwaukee County’s workforce development board, we work every day to develop workforce solutions that promote regional economic growth and employment opportunity for all job seekers. FlexRide Milwaukee does just that.”

The Waukesha County Business Alliance is partnering with the Waukesha County Center for Growth and Waukesha-Ozaukee-Washington Workforce Development Board, MobiliSE and the FlexRide team to recruit employers.

“We are inviting all eligible employers to take part in this service,” said Amanda Payne, senior vice president of public policy for the Alliance. “We regularly hear from our members about the challenges they are facing in attracting and retaining workers – and the barrier a lack of transportation can be. FlexRide Milwaukee will help solve that problem.”

Employee and employer participants will be asked to take part in surveys throughout the pilot to evaluate the program and to help shape potential long-term transportation investments.

Leading the UWM research team are Lingqian (Ivy) Hu and Robert Schneider, urban planning faculty members at the School of Architecture and Urban Planning, and Yaidi Cancel Martinez, associate scientist at the Center for Economic Development.

“We want to thank all partners on this project, who have been doing solid foundational work in our region for years,” Hu said. “The NSF award recognizes the potential impact that our teamwork can have in connecting research with real-world solutions. Successful implementation of the pilot will address transit and other obstacles that deter marginalized population groups from accessing jobs in the Milwaukee region.”

MobiliSE Executive Director Dave Steele said FlexRide is a welcome addition to a suite of services planned to address concerns with worker mobility and shortages. They include Milwaukee County’s East-West Bus Rapid Transit between downtown Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center coming in late 2022 and “last-mile” service being studied for Oak Creek/Franklin and Brookfield/New Berlin. Milwaukee County and SEWRPC are also studying a North-South BRT route along 27^th Street. These transit initiatives are well-aligned with Milwaukee County and MCTS goals to advance racial equity.

“There is historic energy behind multimodal transit in Southeastern Wisconsin, and we are proud to be a part of it,” Steele said. “MobiliSE is the region’s voice and platform for projects like this – connecting workers with jobs and companies with employees through stronger transportation options. All of these initiatives go right to our mission of building a stronger Southeastern Wisconsin through better connectivity.”

About FlexRide Milwaukee

The FlexRide Milwaukee pilot is funded by one of 17 Civic Innovation Challenge grants sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Departments of Energy and Homeland Security. Six of the grants were awarded to projects that sought to deliver community-based solutions to close gaps in transportation equity.

UWM and SEWRPC also received a $50,000 Stage 1 grant in 2021 to design the pilot with communities and potential users of the pilot service. The Stage 2 grant is meant to fund implementation of this pilot (i.e., FlexRide Milwaukee).

The service will operate weekdays from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., with highly flexible scheduling based on demand. Fixed stops will be at the following locations (also see map below), from which riders can connect directly to jobs or job interviews in Menomonee Falls and Butler:

Sherman Phoenix, 3536 W. Fond du Lac Avenue
Midtown Center, 5700 W. Capitol Drive
Silver Spring Neighborhood Center, 5460 N. 64th Street
Silver Spring Drive/Lovers Lane
Woodman’s/Sam’s Club, Highway 145 in Menomonee Falls

Rides from and to the Woodman’s/Sam’s Club and Silver Spring/Lovers Lane stops will be free. Riders from and to the other stops pay $1.50 for a one-way ride, increasing to $3 later in the pilot.

After applying for the service, eligible riders will be able to download the FlexRide Milwaukee app and create an account. To book a ride, the rider will simply enter the pickup and dropoff locations and then check the app to find out where to meet the vehicle and when it will arrive. The service will be accessible to all riders – including residents with disabilities, those without a smartphone, and those without a credit or debit card.

For more information about FlexRide, visit https://www.flexridemke.com.

About Via

January 7, 2022 (New York, New York) — May Mobility, a pioneer of autonomous vehicle (AV) technology and shuttle operations, and Via, the global leader in TransitTech, have together launched three public autonomous vehicles services in just eight months in Arlington, TX, Grand Rapids, MI, and Ann Arbor, MI — demonstrating the partnership’s success in rapidly launching complex, flexible, and scalable autonomous vehicle deployments.

May Mobility and Via’s first autonomous vehicle service, RAPID, which launched in Arlington, TX, in March, has already surpassed 20,000 rides to-date with a variety of destinations across Downtown Arlington and the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) campus. The services in Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor, which launched in August and October 2021, respectively, both also continue to grow in ridership month-by-month.

While on-demand, dynamically-routed, shared AV services have been historically difficult to implement over any time period, Via and May have launched three services of this type in eight months. Each of the three services is customized to meet the needs of the city and community it serves. Despite the variety of localities, rider demographics, and transit needs across Arlington, Grand Rapids, and Ann Arbor, each service has successfully provided effective, efficient driverless transportation services available to all — demonstrating how AVs reach their full potential when they are deployed as part of mass transit.

Data collected from the City of Arlington’s RAPID service to-date illustrates that when AVs are deployed as part of mass transit and scaled efficiently, they can serve as an accessible, convenient way to travel:

More than 60% of riders use RAPID to get to essential destinations including work, school, medical places, or shopping.
An overwhelming amount — nearly 90% — of riders agreed or strongly agreed they would ride RAPID again in the future, with a vast majority agreeing that booking their trip and boarding the autonomous vehicle with Via’s rider app and in-vehicle passenger screen was easy.
After riding RAPID, 80% of riders agreed or strongly agreed that AVs can increase the convenience of travel.

The 20,000 rides milestone in Arlington comes just over a year from when Via and May Mobility announced their partnership in November 2020. The collaboration aims to extend both companies’ reach into on-demand autonomous mobility on a global scale. The partnership involves integrating Via’s TransitTech software into May Mobility’s existing autonomous vehicles platform to support fleet management, booking, routing, passenger and vehicle assignment, and rider experience.

“At Via, we believe that for autonomous vehicles to reach their full potential as part of large-scale transit networks, they must be on-demand, dynamically routed, and shared,” said Cariann Chan, SVP of Business at Via. “Our three services with May Mobility demonstrate how launching highly-customized, public AV services using a common software platform is possible for a variety of use cases and geographies. We couldn’t be more proud of the success we have seen in each market during a short period of time.”

“May has a strong vision on how shared autonomous vehicles can be deployed to complement existing transit and bring value to communities,” said Shana Downs, Director of Sales and Channel Management at May Mobility. “Utilizing Via’s technology has helped us take that vision to the next level and continue our track record of bringing tangible benefits to riders and communities today.”

Via and May Mobility look forward to continuing to help cities and communities introduce autonomous vehicle networks as a way to expand access to efficient, equitable, and sustainable public transportation across the country.

About May

May Mobility is a leader in autonomous vehicle technology development and deployment. With more than 300,000 autonomous rides to date, May Mobility is committed to delivering safe, efficient and sustainable shuttle solutions designed to complement today’s public transportation options. The company’s ultimate goal is to realize a world where self-driving systems make transportation more accessible and reliable, the roads safer, and encourage better land use in order to foster more green, vibrant, and livable spaces. For more information, visit maymobility.com.

About Via

January 4, 2022 (Arlington, TX) — Today, the City of Arlington and Via, the global leader in TransitTech, announced the launch of a new on-demand transportation service to provide rides home for discharged hospital patients who otherwise would lack the resources to travel home independently. The program will serve patients of a major North Texas hospital and is an extension of the City of Arlington’s Via Rideshare service, which has provided affordable on-demand rides as part of the city’s public transit network since 2017.

This service marks a first-of-its-kind initiative in the U.S. between a publicly funded microtransit service and a major hospital, and provides a model for how public transit and healthcare organizations can collaborate to address health inequities and reduce barriers to accessing care. The service is a stride forward in the City of Arlington and Via’s shared vision to enable local healthcare providers to leverage the city’s public on-demand microtransit service.

The on-demand ride service comes after limited transportation was identified as a barrier to healthcare access in the hospital’s 2019 Community Health Needs Assessment, and will expand Arlington residents’ access to convenient, equitable non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT). The service is powered by Via’s technology, which allows trained hospital staff to book on-demand rides home on behalf of discharged patients. Rides are served by the same drivers and vehicles that operate the Via Rideshare service, enabling City of Arlington resources to be deployed efficiently for both microtransit and NEMT, and improve both general mobility and community health.

The service is designed to support patients without reliable transportation options — such as those who do not have someone to pick them up or who cannot afford a ride home. Lack of reliable transportation options can result in delayed discharges for patients, which can have acute implications on both patients and the hospital system. For patients, staying longer than necessary can result in infections and depression. For hospital systems, delayed patient discharges can result in increased costs and treatment impediments due to the lack of free hospital beds, according to recent studies.

“Via believes that every patient should have access to a safe, reliable, convenient ride home from the hospital,” said Eddie Fishman, Director of Via for Health. “We’re excited to collaborate with the City of Arlington and our partner hospital to bring simplicity and ease to the last leg of the patient experience, which will improve health and transportation equity in the Arlington community.”

Service highlights:

Special accommodations: Patients who are discharged from the hospital will receive a door-to-door trip. Wheelchair-accessible vehicles will be available to patients who need them.
Caretakers: A patient’s family member or personal care attendant can join the patient on their ride home.
COVID-19 safety: To prioritize the health and safety of riders and drivers, the service will have limited vehicle capacity, partitions and PPE in vehicles, regular cleanings, and a mandatory mask policy.

“Our innovative rideshare service is already helping thousands of residents each week who need affordable, reliable transportation for work, school and day-to-day activities”, said Alicia Winkelblech, Senior Officer for Strategic Initiatives at the City of Arlington. “This collaboration addresses another pressing need in our community — improving access to healthcare — by removing the lack of transportation as a potential barrier to seeking medical treatment.”

The service will allow discharged patients to travel to their homes anywhere in Arlington and will be available from 6 a.m. – 9 p.m. from Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Saturdays.

About the City of Arlington

Arlington, the 49^th largest city in America, is a global community and has been recognized as the 8th most diverse city in the country. As a premiere entertainment destination, Arlington attracts nearly 14 million visitors each year and is home to Six Flags Over Texas and Hurricane Harbor, Texas Live! and three professional sports franchises: the Dallas Cowboys, the Texas Rangers and the WNBA’s Dallas Wings. The City, positioned at the center of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, is also proud to be the home of The University of Texas at Arlington, General Motors, D.R. Horton and a host of global, domestic and family-owned businesses. Arlington is a leader in transportation innovation, as one of the first cities in the country to offer on-demand rideshare and autonomous vehicle transportation services to residents and visitors. Quality of life in The American Dream City is second to none, with a low cost of living, affordable housing, rich educational and cultural opportunities, nationally recognized recreation facilities and 4,600 acres of parkland.

About Via

New York, December 21, 2021 – Via today announced that it has confidentially submitted a draft registration statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) relating to the proposed initial public offering of its common stock. The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the proposed offering have not yet been determined. The registration statement is expected to become effective after the SEC completes its review process, subject to market and other conditions.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. Any offers, solicitations of offers to buy, or any sales of securities will be made in accordance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”). This announcement is being issued in accordance with Rule 135 under the Securities Act.

December 21, 2021 (Salt Lake City) — Utah Transit Authority (UTA) has been named a “Leader in Equity-focused Innovation” in the 2021 Via Impact Awards, which recognize cities and transit agencies who have delivered exceptional service to their communities by leveraging Via’s TransitTech. UTA is one of two transit agencies being recognized with the award this year out of Via’s 500+ global partners.

In this first iteration of the awards, Via is specifically celebrating the impact tech-enabled services have had on equity, from providing high-quality service to riders with disabilities to expanding access to jobs, education, healthcare, and other opportunities. UTA’s On-Demand service, which is powered by Via, launched in November 2019 to provide public, on-demand shared rides for $2.50 to residents and visitors in Salt Lake County. Due to its success, the service expanded to Salt Lake City’s Westside neighborhoods (including Rose Park, Glendale, and Downtown) on Dec. 13.

New UTA On-Demand rider survey results and demographic data illustrates how the service is expanding access to affordable, equitable transportation in Salt Lake City:

54% of UTA On-Demand passengers do not own a car, and use UTA On-Demand to connect to light-rail and paratransit services that link them to opportunities throughout the Salt Lake City metropolitan area.
When asked about how they would have made their last trip, most riders indicated that they would have used a more expensive or inconvenient mode, like a private taxi or a ride with a friend — but 12% indicated they would not have made the trip at all, highlighting the impact UTA On-Demand has had on affordable, accessible mobility.
In UTA On-Demand’s new Westside zones, about 1 in 4 residents live below the federal poverty line, and most residents are people of color.

“In November 2019 we were in southern Salt Lake County with Via launching our first microtransit on-demand service, and we are so pleased with how this innovative service has been received by our residents,” said Carlton Christensen, UTA Board of Trustees Chair. “Now, just two years later, it’s exciting to bring UTA On Demand to a second community in our region, with more service areas planned.”

“Via is so proud to honor Utah Transit Authority as a Leader in Equity-focused Innovation for our first-ever Impact Awards,” said Jason Starr, Partnerships Director at Via. “Our mission is to help partners expand access to equitable, efficient, tech-enabled public transportation, and UTA is a shining example of an agency that’s done exactly that. The Salt Lake City community should be very excited to be part of a city dedicated to innovative mobility.”

About Via

Founded in 2012, Via pioneered the TransitTech category by using new technologies to develop public mobility systems — optimizing networks of buses, shuttles, wheelchair accessible vehicles, school buses, autonomous vehicles, and electric vehicles around the globe. Building the world’s most efficient, equitable, and sustainable transportation network for all riders — including those with limited mobility, those without smartphones, and unbanked populations — Via works with its partners to lower the costs of public transit while providing transportation options that rival the convenience of a personal car while reducing the environmental impact. At the intersection of transportation and technology, Via is a visionary market leader that combines software innovation with sophisticated service design and operational expertise to fundamentally improve the way the world moves, with 500 partnerships in more than 35 countries and counting.

About Utah Transit Authority

Utah Transit Authority (UTA) provides integrated mobility solutions to service life’s connections, improve public health and enhance quality of life. UTA provides an integrated system of innovative, accessible and efficient public transportation services that increases access to opportunities and contribute to a healthy environment.

December 21, 2021 (Arlington, TX) — The City of Arlington has been named a “Leader in Equitable Regional Transportation” in the 2021 Via Impact Awards, which recognize cities and transit agencies who have delivered exceptional service to their communities by leveraging Via’s TransitTech. The City of Arlington is one of two transit agencies being recognized with the award this year out of Via’s 500+ global partners.

In this first iteration of the awards, Via is specifically celebrating the impact tech-enabled services have had on equity, from providing high-quality service to riders with disabilities to expanding access to jobs, education, healthcare, and other opportunities. Arlington’s Via On-Demand service launched in 2017 to provide public, affordable shared rides to residents and visitors. Today, the service covers the entire Arlington population of nearly 400,000 residents, a majority of whom identify as people of color, and spans nearly 100 square miles.

New Arlington On-Demand rider survey results and demographic data illustrates how the service is expanding access to affordable, equitable transportation in the region:

The majority of riders use Arlington On-Demand to access jobs, healthcare, education, and more — with high quality service regardless of where they request a trip.
Nearly 90% of riders make less than the City’s median household income of ~$50k, and many riders report using the service as an alternative to private car ownership.
With Arlington On-Demand in place, residents can now affordably access almost 50% more of the city’s jobs, hospitals, and schools within 30 minutes than they could prior to the launch of the service.

Some frequent riders have shared the positive impact that the service has made on their daily life:

“I don’t have a car. Via is an affordable way to get to doctor appointments and other places around town. Plus, my granddaughter uses Via every day to get home from school.”
“It’s awesome to know I don’t need a car right now and still have [transportation] at a low cost.”
“It has been so convenient and inexpensive moving from point A to point B in Arlington.”

“Thousands of Arlington residents each week are choosing Arlington’s Via On-Demand service, whether out of convenience or out of necessity, for reliable transportation around town or to reach one of our regional commuter rail stations,” said Alicia Winkelblech, Senior Strategic Initiatives Officer for the City of Arlington. “This on-demand public transportation service is improving the quality of life for so many in our community, including those who require mobility assistance and students without their own vehicles. We are honored to be recognized for our partnership with Via’s TransitTech over the past four years to get our residents where they want to be, when they need to be, in an affordable way.”

“Without question, Arlington is a global leader for efficient, accessible, tech-enabled public transportation — which is why we’re so excited to recognize them as a Leader in Equitable Regional Transportation for our first-ever Impact Awards,” said Dillon Twombly, Chief Revenue Officer at Via. “The Arlington community should be proud to be part of a city dedicated to innovative, equitable mobility.”

About City of Arlington

Arlington, the 49th largest city in America, is a global community and has been recognized as the 8th most diverse city in the country. As a premiere entertainment destination, Arlington attracts nearly 14 million visitors each year and is home to Six Flags Over Texas and Hurricane Harbor, Texas Live! and three professional sports franchises: the Dallas Cowboys, the Texas Rangers and the WNBA’s Dallas Wings. The City, positioned at the center of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, is also proud to be the home of The University of Texas at Arlington, General Motors, D.R. Horton and a host of global, domestic and family-owned businesses. Arlington is a leader in transportation innovation, as one of the first cities in the country to offer on-demand rideshare and autonomous vehicle transportation services to residents and visitors. Quality of life in The American Dream City second to none, with a low cost of living, affordable housing, rich educational and culture opportunities, nationally recognized recreation facilities and 4,600 acres of parkland.

About Via

December 10, 2021 (Niagara Region, Ontario) — Now all residents in Port Colborne will have access to transit services no matter where they live, with NRT OnDemand covering the whole city. NRT OnDemand offers riders in smaller, rural communities more equitable access to transit than conventional, fixed route bus service can provide.

Riders are able to book trips in real time by using the NRT OnDemand mobile app, or by calling 289-302-2172, and selecting a pick-up and drop-off location within the service zone. Once the ride is booked, passengers are directed to a nearby stop location to await their ride. Individuals without access to a smartphone are able to purchase transit passes at Port Colborne City Hall and Vale Health and Wellness Centre.

NRT OnDemand will operate in Port Colborne Monday to Saturday between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. beginning Jan. 3, 2022. Fares are $3 per local trip, and $6 for inter-municipal trips. The $4 fare remains in effect for riders that wish to connect to Niagara Region Transit’s Route 25 (PC Link) at Port Colborne City Hall. Port Colborne will be the seventh community serviced by NRT OnDemand, joining Grimsby, Lincoln, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Pelham, Wainfleet and West Lincoln.

Niagara Region was one of the first communities in Canada to collaborate with Via, the global leader in TransitTech, for an on-demand transportation service. The fleet’s vehicle are mini-vans, which offer comfortable seating for up to five passengers. All COVID-19 protocols are in place for the health and safety of passengers and operators.

Visit us online for more information about NRT OnDemand.

Quotes

“The expansion of on demand transit service to Port Colborne is just another example of how well a singular transit provider will be across the Region. The launch of this service takes place on the heels of Regional Council showing their overwhelming support for the creation of a transit commission, and I trust that Port Colborne’s experience will be exceedingly positive as it has been in so many other communities. Providing flexible, convenient service to Port Colborne’s residents that seamlessly connects into across Niagara will allow residents the opportunity to more fully experience their community, as well as access the entire region.” ~ Regional Chair, Jim Bradley

“Our mission is to provide an exceptional small-town experience in a big way, and our decision to offer our residents an OnDemand transit system that will service 100 per cent of our city is an example of that. We’re continuously looking at ways to keep our community connected, whether within our city limits or across Niagara, and this convenient and flexible transit service is another tool our residents can use to do that. Whether booking a ride to get to work, school, our Vale Health & Wellness Centre, go shopping, or visit family and friends, we hope that our residents take advantage of this service and the new opportunities it can provide them.” ~ Mayor of Port Colborne, Bill Steele

“Via is excited to serve more riders in the Niagara Region as the NRT service expands to Port Colborne. The region has set a strong example for the ways that rural transportation can best serve the community, and we’re proud that NRT OnDemand will continue expanding connections to essential and leisure destinations.” ~ Chief Revenue Officer, Via, Dillon Twombly

December 15, 2021 (New York, NY) — Via, the global leader in TransitTech, today announces that the company will focus on its TransitTech business and stop providing direct-to-consumer, on-demand shared rides. This moment reflects the realization of Via’s multi-year strategy to drive global adoption of software for public transportation. The announcement comes on the heels of a Series G funding round in November that valued the company at $3.3 billion, based in large part on its TransitTech software business.

Via launched the first marketplace for on-demand shared rides in NYC in 2013. The experience as operator of a large-scale on-demand transit service, and as primary user of its own software, along with the data from tens of millions of rides, were critical for developing the algorithms and technology stack that are the foundation of the Via software platform.

In parallel, Via grew relationships with public mobility providers — cities, transit agencies, school districts, and paratransit operators — to offer technology-enabled shared transportation that improves efficiency and quality of service. Via’s track record as an operator, along with the company’s familiarity with the day-to-day challenges faced by its public transit partners, helped build trust and drive growth. Today, Via has more than 500 partnerships in over 35 countries and a thriving TransitTech business that has surpassed an annual revenue run rate of $100M.

The adoption of TransitTech has been accelerated by a number of factors:

Flexible transit — that does not adhere to fixed routes or schedules — can readily respond to changes in demand, making efficient use of resources to meet the greatest need. Unpredictable shifts in travel behavior have been magnified as communities respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The zip code a person is born into is one of the greatest predictors of economic mobility, and car ownership is the second largest household expense for most Americans. By providing access to efficient and affordable public transportation, Via is helping reduce the need for a car, and increasing individuals’ ability to easily reach employment, healthcare, and educational opportunities.
Transportation is the single largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the US. TransitTech is supplying solutions to the climate crisis by connecting riders to public transit and enabling shared mobility to meet the needs of more people, thereby reducing single-occupancy vehicle trips.

“We are incredibly proud that adoption of TransitTech solutions has become mainstream,” said Daniel Ramot and Oren Shoval, Via Co-founders. “Now more than ever it’s critical that we focus on the part of our business that creates the most benefit for the most people. TransitTech is good for communities, good for the environment, and good business. New York will always be our home, and we are thrilled to be a growing, mission-driven company that is part of the city’s technology landscape.”

Via serves communities across the US and around the world with its TransitTech solutions, including:

Jersey City, NJ: In partnership with the City of Jersey City, Via’s platform powers Via Jersey City, an on-demand public transit service that connects residents between transit deserts in the North and South regions of the city to public transit hubs and essential destinations. 50% of riders make less than $50K a year, and the impact of the service is clear with a 78% increase in ridership since the start of the pandemic, with ridership more than 3x what it was before the onset of COVID-19.
Wilson, NC: In rural Wilson, NC, where 22% of residents live below the poverty line, the city replaced fixed-route services with RIDE, an on-demand transit service powered by software from Via. Since launch, Wilson residents can now affordably access 64% more of the city’s jobs, hospitals, and schools.

Milton Keynes, United Kingdom: Via launched a fully-electric, direct-to-consumer, on-demand shared ride service in Milton Keynes (UK) in 2018. The service was the first fully-electric offering of its kind in the UK, supported by funding from the Department for Transport to enable the success of equitable, low-emission on demand public transport services. Due to its positive impact, a year later, the Milton Keynes Council transitioned the service to be an integral part of the city’s public transport network.

Luxembourg: In partnership with the Luxembourg Ministry of Mobility and Public Works, Via has deployed its cloud-based software platform to transform the way that paratransit riders and those with special needs access and experience public transport nationwide. Luxembourg paratransit and special needs public transport serves approximately 500,000 rides a year.

Via’s last day of service for individual riders in NYC and DC will be on December 20th. To support the driver community, the company is offering its NY-based driver partners a range of work opportunities, including to drive with Via TransitTech partnerships in the area and referring them to MTA access-a-ride programs. In Washington DC, Via has a number of existing partnerships with the DC government that the company is working to continue to support.

About Via:

Founded in 2012, Via pioneered the TransitTech category by using new technologies to develop public mobility systems — optimizing networks of buses, shuttles, wheelchair accessible vehicles, school buses, autonomous vehicles, and electric vehicles around the globe. Building the world’s most efficient, equitable, and sustainable transportation network for all riders — including those with limited mobility, those without smartphones, and unbanked populations — Via works with its partners to lower the costs of public transit while providing transportation options that rival the convenience of a personal car, and reducing environmental impact. At the intersection of transportation and technology, Via is a visionary market leader that combines software innovation with sophisticated service design and operational expertise to fundamentally improve the way the world moves, with over 500 partnerships in more than 35 countries and counting

###

Dear NYC Driver Partners,

In 2013, Via launched its first service right here in New York City, inspired by the belief that cities become better – more friendly, less congested, less polluted – when we share the ride.

Together, we built a platform that brought ridesharing to the masses and a community of driver partners and riders who supported us along the way.

We had a great ride, but we are discontinuing our New York City rideshare service on December 20, 2021. We’re honored to have partnered with you — and we’re so thankful for every ride you provided for our service.

Via’s mission from day one has been to help cities improve the efficiency, convenience, and accessibility of their public transit networks. We’ve been successful in reaching that goal. Our software — developed and tested in NYC! — is used in more than 35 countries around the world. And while we’ve loved our rides across the five boroughs, the timing is right to focus on being a public transit solutions provider.

What this means for you.

You’ll be able to provide rides on the Via NYC platform through 12/20. Your final earnings report for the week of 12/20 will be released on Monday, 12/27, and you’ll receive your direct deposit on Tuesday, 12/28.

We’re still offering new opportunities.

Via powers and operates several other services in the Tri-State Area. We’re actively seeking drivers for our Via Jersey City service — if you’d like to learn more, fill out this form and we’ll reach out!

If you drive a Mercedes Metris, you may be eligible to drive with our NYU or Columbia SafeRide services right here in NYC. Tap here to let us know you’re interested!

We’re here to support your transition.

Lastly, paratransit providers — whose services provide transportation options for people with disabilities that are unable to access the public buses and subways — are also actively recruiting driver partners. Express your interest through this form.

Thanks for being a part of the journey!

With love,
Team Via NYC

Dear Via-istas,

We founded Via with a clear vision: a smart, on-demand mass transit system that would seamlessly supplement a city’s existing public transportation network.

Back in 2012, the concept of dynamic public transit was new and unproven. As our service in NYC grew — thanks to your support! — it served as a clear demonstration of the power of technology to transform the way people move.

Inspired by our success in NYC, cities and transit authorities around the world began using our software to improve their own public transportation systems. We, in turn, greatly expanded the scope of our software, creating technology to digitize everything from school buses, to paratransit services, to planning public transit networks.

We call this TransitTech: software that powers data-driven, technology-enabled public transportation. It’s a new and exciting category and we’re proud to have led its creation.

Today, cities across the world overwhelmingly recognize the value of TransitTech – our software is used by 540 communities in more than 35 countries.

With adoption of TransitTech rapidly accelerating, now is the time to complete our evolution from a rideshare operator to a global software company whose technology powers the public transit systems of hundreds, and in the future, we believe, thousands of cities. We are turning our full attention to Via’s core mission: enabling cities everywhere to create more accessible, efficient, equitable, and convenient public transit.

As of December 20th, we will discontinue our New York rideshare service.*

It’s an emotional decision to close the chapter on our rideshare operations, but it’s the right one.

To all of our riders and drivers: we’ve loved every ride and we will miss you! We are incredibly grateful to you all and you will forever be in our hearts.

From Montana, where our technology enables a shuttle service for residents of the Blackfeet Reservation, to right across the river, where our software powers public transit in Jersey City — we can’t wait to welcome you on board Via-powered public transit.

With love,
Daniel and Oren, Co-founders of Via

*For questions about how this will impact your Via account, please head here: https://ridewithvia.com/nyc-was/

Via was recognized for its efforts in helping more than 150 cities and communities in the past year access a cost-effective way to meet community transport needs as they battled slashed budgets and unpredictable travel patterns

(New York, New York) December 7, 2021 — Via has been named to the Inc. 2021 Best in Business list in the General Excellence category. Inc.’s Best in Business Awards honor companies that have gone above and beyond to make a positive impact. Via was recognized for its efforts in helping more than 150 cities and communities in the past year access a cost-effective way to meet community transport needs as they battled slashed budgets and unpredictable travel patterns.

The list, which can be found in the Winter issue of Inc. magazine (on newsstands December 14), recognizes small- and medium-size privately held American businesses that have had an outstanding influence on their communities, their industries, the environment, or society as a whole.

Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc., says, “What began for us during the pandemic as an effort to showcase companies that were helping the community has grown into a recognition of social, environmental, and economic impact. The companies on this year’s list are changemakers with heart – and they’re pouring the best of their business into the people and communities around them.”

Rather than relying on quantitative criteria tied to sales or funding, Inc.’s editors reviewed the companies’ achievements over the past year and noted how they made a positive difference in the world. They then selected honorees in more than 49 different industries – from finance to software to engineering to fashion, and more – and in age-based and revenue-based categories. The applicant pool was extremely competitive, with around 2,700 entries and an acceptance rate in the low single digits – a huge success for these honors in the list’s second year. Honorees for gold, silver, bronze, and general excellence across industries and categories are featured online at inc.com/best-in-business.

About Inc. Media

The world’s most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across various channels, including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the Inc. 5000 allows these founders a chance to engage with their peers in an exclusive community with the credibility to help drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

About Via

New York, New York (December 8, 2021) — Transportation Alternatives (TA), the New York City-based advocacy organization with a mission to reclaim New York City’s streets from cars, and Via, the global leader in TransitTech, today released the new Shovel-Ready NYC 25×25 Streets, a report demonstrating how space for cars can be quickly turned into space for people in New York City.

This first-of-its-kind report showcasing five redesigned New York City streets was built by TA using Via’s Remix platform, a collaborative mapping solution for transportation planning and decision-making. The report builds upon NYC 25×25, a vision launched by TA in early 2021 challenging New York City leaders to convert 25 percent of space currently for cars into space for people by 2025.

“For too long, city streets have been designed with drivers top of mind, instead of prioritizing the majority of New Yorkers who walk, bike, and use transit to get around. We are thrilled to be using the Remix platform and elevating community voices to present a vision for safe, healthy, and equitable streets. Seventy-five percent of New York City’s streetspace is dedicated to the movement and storage of vehicles. It is time to imagine a better use of our streets that puts people, not cars, first,” said Danny Harris, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives.

With Shovel-Ready NYC 25×25 Streets, TA and Via present a set of real-world designs, one in each borough, that reflect the expertise of urban city planners, advocates, and community members, and articulate specific and actionable plans to reclaim space in New York City. This unique collaboration showcases the power of community input in creating streets for people and a new way to accelerate the work of reclaiming space from cars.

The selected corridors and their proposed redesigns include:

Each site was selected by TA based on input from its members and by looking at a variety of data across the boroughs including data on crashes, injuries, fatalities, air pollution, tree cover, asthma rates, and bus speeds. TA developed implementation-focused, tactical, site-specific redesigns of the corridors using feedback from local residents captured in Remix Streets, Via’s street design and mapping software that enables a modern, faster and more responsive and collaborative design process. TA staff and volunteers also visited site locations in-person to gather on-the-ground feedback from community members on their visions for each corridor.

“Remix Streets from Via’s planning suite of tools can help design the streets of tomorrow, and help cities, designers, engineers, and communities collaborate with the technology to see this through. We are proud to team up with Transportation Alternatives as the first non-profit to utilize Remix as a part of a citywide vision. Right now, the challenges facing our streets are urgent, and we believe new ways of working, such as with Remix, will help supercharge plans to make streets better serve all,” said Tiffany Chu, SVP at Via and former co-founder of Remix.

NYC 25×25 has been supported by Mayor-elect Eric Adams along with a coalition of more than 200 disability rights, economic, educational, environmental, labor, and public health organizations across New York City. By giving a fraction of the street back to people, the City of New York can save lives, improve air quality, build climate resilience into every roadbed, and set the tone for the future of New York as a vibrant city with accessible, efficient transportation and a robust, thriving street life. This partnership between TA and Via demonstrates a new way to redesign streets by creating technical, actionable plans that incorporate globally-recognized best practices for street design and reflect specific input from the community. The report should also serve as a library of resources for advocates, planners, and engineers around the globe looking to bring a NYC 25×25 vision to their most problematic streets.

The report is accessible at Shovel-Ready NYC 25×25 Streets and images and videos of the corridor redesigns are available here.

About Transportation Alternatives

Transportation Alternatives’ mission is to reclaim New York City’s streets from the automobile and to advocate for better walking, biking and public transit for all New Yorkers. For nearly 50 years, TA has led the movement for safe, equitable streets in New York City. TA uses a combination of neighborhood-level grassroots organizing and city-wide advocacy to push for changes in public policy, street design, enforcement, and resource allocation that transform our city’s streets for the better. TA has successfully pushed for the construction of over 1,000 miles of bike lanes and over 70 public plazas on New York City streets. TA brought the first public bike share system, the first protected bike lanes, the world’s largest automated speed safety camera system, and the nation’s first Vision Zero initiative to New York City. TA believes in the power of the grassroots to make meaningful change to New York City’s streets, and is constantly building a coalition of engaged activists and partners, now 30,000 strong.

About Via

November 30, 2021 (New York, NY) — Via, the global leader in TransitTech, today announced $130 million in new funding at a post-money valuation of $3.3 billion. The round was led by Janus Henderson with participation from funds and accounts managed by BlackRock, ION Crossover Partners, Koch Disruptive Technologies, and existing investor Exor. Demand for software that can transform legacy transportation systems into advanced digital networks has been increasing rapidly worldwide. As a result, Via has been experiencing strong growth, with TransitTech revenue more than doubling year-on-year to exceed an annual run rate of $100m, cementing Via’s leadership role in the TransitTech category.

“This is the most exciting time in transportation in decades,” said Daniel Ramot and Oren Shoval, co-founders of Via. “Cities around the world are recognizing the critical role that technology can play in improving the efficiency and quality of their transit networks. Our software provides an end-to-end solution that helps cities and public agencies plan, operate, and optimize every facet of their transportation system.”

The global TransitTech category is expected to grow to an estimated $1.35 trillion by 2025, according to a recent BCG study, highlighting the critical role that transit plays in economic development, equity, and sustainability.

“When we look at the public transit market today, we see tremendous opportunity,” said Denny Fish, portfolio manager at Janus. “We’ve seen time and time again how traditional industries are transformed by the introduction of technology: FinTech, HealthTech, EdTech, and others have driven extraordinary improvements in performance and efficiency. TransitTech is next, and having created this category, Via is uniquely positioned to lead it. The company’s mission to expand access to efficient, affordable, and sustainable transportation is inspiring.”

In the United States, the recently passed Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal will see an unprecedented $91b annually in new and reauthorized funding guaranteed for public transit over the next five years. It follows the nearly $70 billion in federal COVID-19 relief funding already provided to support near-term transit needs. Many of the funds made available through these programs are provided for innovative mobility solutions that improve the efficiency of transportation networks, expand access for underserved communities, and tackle reducing carbon emissions and congestion.

“Via’s platform has been transformative for our community,” said Caroline Rodriguez, Executive Director, High Valley Transit in Utah. “Unifying our fixed-route, on-demand, and paratransit operations allows us to deliver a vastly improved experience for our riders while at the same time achieving significant efficiency gains. The flexibility enabled by this technology allows us to extend access to jobs, education, healthcare, and other essential services for our community, and reduce reliance on single occupancy vehicles.”

Via plans to use the funding to accelerate expansion into new markets, continue to hire exceptional talent, and grow its investment in product innovation.

About Via: