on November 9, 2017 / by Downtown Dallas Inc. / in Blog Posts, Economic Development and Planning

Dallas, Texas – November 2, 2017 – Dallas is testing out new paratransit options in hopes of providing easier access to transportation for the senior and disabled members of our community. Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) has already brought in MV Transportation to help operate their paratransit services. Now they are combining forces to introduce a pilot program partnering with ride share company Lyft to provide on-demand transportation as part of their current paratransit system.

If the pilot goes well, this program could help improve the convenience of getting the elderly and disabled citizens visiting downtown to enjoy all that we have to offer. We love to see the community enjoying the attractions within our many districts like exhibits at the Perot Museum, the Dallas Museum of Art or symphonies at the Meyerson Symphony Center.

Currently a majority of DART’s paratransit riders must request their rides a day in advance, but now through the pilot the program riders will be able to utilize the transportation when they need a last minute Lyft. Riders will also receive up-to-date alerts about their trip while still having the MV call center as a resource. “Being a part of these vital community transport programs is an important part of our mission to improve people’s lives,” says Yohan Bobcombe, Market Manager of Lyft Dallas/Fort Worth when discussing the excitement of the new partnership.

The three organizations involved show potential to be very successful in this pilot. For instance MV Transportation, Inc. is the largest private provider of paratransit services in the United States and is headquartered here in Downtown Dallas! Lyft also has a lot to offer even though they were founded as recently as 2012. In fact, they are one of the fastest growing rideshare companies in the United States. It is also encouraging to see that Lyft is so committed to effecting positive change for the future of our city.

Doug Douglas, DART Vice President of Mobility Management Services says that they want to ensure their “standards of quality are met for all individuals in the most efficient and cost effective way. Both MV and Lyft have been outstanding partners in meeting this expectation.”
We at Downtown Dallas Inc. will be waiting to see how the pilot program goes.

tags: See More Posts