HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-10-07; NCTD Uber and Lyft Microtransit Pilot Program at Carlsbad Poinsettia Station (Districts - All); Gomez, PazTo the rnembers of the:
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Oct. 7, 2021
Council Memorandum
To: Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council
From: Paz Gomez, Deputy City Manager, Public Works
Via: Geoff Patnoe, Assistant City Manager {[jJ
{city of
Carlsbad
Memo ID #2021187
Re: NCTD Uber and Lyft Microtransit Pilot Program at Carlsbad Poinsettia Stat ion (Dist ricts -All)
This memorandum provides an overview of the North County Transit District (NCTD) Uber and
Lyft microtransit pilot program to provide first/last mile connections at the Carlsbad Poinsettia
Coaster station.
Background
On Sept. 16, 2021, the NCTD Board of Directors approved an agreement with rideshare providers
Uber and Lyft for a microtransit pilot program to provide first/last mile connections at three
station locations within the NCTD service area including the Carlsbad Poinsettia Coaster station,
Vista Transit Center and Sorrento Valley Coaster station. The service is intended to provide
commuters with connections to and from these three transit stations in line with the expansion
of Coaster service which will increase frequencies significantly over the current schedule.
Discussion
At its July 22, 2021 meeting, the NCTD Board of Directors approved the expansion of Coaster
service effective October 2021, which will increase frequencies significantly over the current
schedule as follows:
• Increasing the number of daily weekday trips from 22 to 30
• Increasing the number of daily summer Friday trips from 26 to 32
• Increasing the number of daily winter Friday trips from 22 to 32
• Increasing the number of daily summer Saturday trips from 12 to 20
• Increasing the number of daily winter Saturday trips from eight to 20
• Increasing the number of daily Sunday trips from eight to 20
• Modifying trip times to bridge existing gaps in service
• Modifying Sorrento Valley Coaster connection service during weekday peak hours and adding
Breeze bus trips into the Poinsettia Coaster station as a pilot program to connect with
Coaster during peak hours
In response to the expansion of the Coaster service, and to support improved first/last mile
connections for commuters, the NCTD is implementing the three microtransit pilot programs
with the on-demand ride share providers Uber and Lyft to connect Coaster riders with their place
Public Works Branch
Transportation Department
1635 Faraday Avenue I Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 760-602-2780 t
I
Council Memo -NCTD Uber and Lyft Microtransit Pilot Program at Carlsbad Poinsettia Station
Oct. 7, 2021
Page 2
of employment. The pilot programs will operate Mondays through Fridays during all hours that
the Coaster service operates (approximately 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Mondays through
Thursdays and 5:30 a.m. to midnight on Fridays).
The goals of the Uber and Lyft microtransit pilot program include:
• Support increased ridership and revenue
• Enhance understanding of the travel market after COVID-19's major impacts
• Ascertain if the customer riding experience is enhanced by the mobility option
• Provide flexibility to travelers within and outside of the service area to efficiently connect
with stations
• Assist in the determination of travel patterns that can be supported by improved fixed
route connections
• Understand the impacts of pricing and refine the cost model of first and last mile services
Under the proposed agreements, the pilot program is scheduled to start on Oct. 25, 2021, and
could last up to 12 months. Uber and Lyft will provide rideshare services for trips within specified
geofenced areas that either start or end at the Poinsettia Coaster station (see Attachment A). To
utilize the pilot service, Coaster riders will book trips via the Uber and Lyft mobile apps and
would pay the first $2.50 and the NCTD would pay up to $7.50, and then the riders would be
responsible for any additional costs. Riders would also be subject to a variable price structure set
by the ridershare companies, such as "Uber surge pricing" when in effect.
Status of New Connector Pilot
The NCTD continues to plan for the relaunch of an on-demand microtransit service similar to the
Carlsbad Connector in early 2022 even with the launch of this new microtransit pilot program.
The NCTD has expressed that the specific launch date will be dependent on the post-COVID-19
recovery, and they will be issuing a request for proposals, or RFP, to select a consultant to
provide the software application for this on-demand transit service by the end of the year.
Next Steps
Staff will continue to coordinate with our partners at the NCTD on the new microtransit pilot
program currently scheduled for opening on Oct. 25, 2021. Staff will provide outreach to our
local business community within the Palomar Airport Road business corridor to inform them of
this new program through direct communications and via the city's commuter resource.
Attachment: A. Carlsbad Poinsettia Station Pilot Area Map
Council Memo -NCTD Uber and Lyft Microtransit Pilot Program at Carlsbad Poinsettia Station
Oct. 7, 2021
Page 3
cc: Scott Chadwick, City Manager
Celia Brewer, City Attorney
Gary Barberio, Deputy City Manager, Community Services
Laura Rocha, Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services
Michael Calderwood, Fire Chief
Mickey Williams, Police Chief
Robby Contreras, Assistant City Attorney
David Graham, Chief Innovation Officer
Tom Frank, Transportation Director/City Engineer
Jeff Murphy, Community Development Director
Kristina Ray, Communication & Engagement Director
James Wood, Environmental Management Director
Nathan Schmidt, Transportation Planning and Mobility Manager
Matt Sanford, Economic Development Manager
Carlsbad
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ATTACHMENT A (
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D Pilot Area
@ COASTER Station
• Landmarks & Major Employers
Transit Routes
~ COASTER
--309
--332
-444
-445