Michael Lambert, MassDOT deputy administrator for transit, rolled out a new proposal last week to team up with the state’s taxi services and ridesharing apps like Uber to prop up its paratransit pickup option, The Ride. Facing potential budget cuts, and thus service cuts, Lambert is already marching forward with his new CEO Stephanie Pollack’s call for a more focused, decisive and results-driven transit system.
Although the prospect of snipping away any part of the service that many disabled people rely on for daily travel is disappointing, it is a relief to see a creative solution running parallel to a very real problem, rather than limping distantly behind it. The nightmare version of this scenario would have had Lambert’s proposal surfacing not in early November, but as an afterthought in the spring, when cuts were already in process.
If Pollack’s new way of life for Bay State transit is to realize its potential, “solutions” must exit the vocabulary in favor of “opportunities.” The best way for established bodies like the MBTA to capitalize on the opportunities that exist for increased efficiency and long-term security is to look to innovation, and innovators.
We’ve all heard the hubbub about Uber. Some love it, some hate it – some for reasons entirely objective and statistical, others not so much. But the bottom line is, it works. There wouldn’t be so much back-and-forth noise otherwise.
Connected to a user’s account and fully interactive, allowing for direct, real-time communication with drivers, Uber (as well its counterpart Lyft and several other up-and-comers) is ideal for creating a reliable connective tissue to bridge the “last mile” between MBTA stops for all users, especially those who require particular accommodations. And such a partnership in Boston does not reinvent the wheel –public transit systems like Atlanta’s MARTA have already moved forward with similar programs on a wider scale than just paratransit.
Even from an anti-rideshare perspective, collaboration makes sense. Why not regulate this disruptive new industry from the inside through a government partnership, rather than with an outside assault? In Massachusetts, the bottom line is that with our ailing transportation infrastructure, we need to do what works. Or at least, we need to seize upon the best opportunities to keep the system working for the people who need it the most. As the potential millions in savings add up, the results of a little transportation experimentation like this are more than just enticing – they’re crucial.
None of this should imply that Uber would be gobbling up all the profits if this plan went through. In fact, traditional taxi companies are already the first to the spoils, as a pilot program is currently underway subsidizing paratransit rides via a New Freedom grant.
All users of public transportation in Massachusetts should pay attention to the results of this pilot, even those with no current connection to paratransit. A similar program could very well work its way into all of our commutes in the future.
