HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-01-20; NCTD+ Uber and Lyft Pilot Program at Carlsbad Poinsettia Station Update (Districts All); Gomez, PazTo the members of the:
CITY COUNCIL
Date ' J.io/1,:-z,CA L CC L
CM _..lL ACM .JL DCM (3) Jl_
Jan. 20, 2022
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@
{city of
Carlsbad
Memo ID #2022011
Re: NCTD+ Uber and Lyft Micro-transit Pilot Program at Carlsbad Poinsettia Station Update
(Districts -All)
This memorandum provides an update to the attached Council Memorandum dated,
Oct. 7, 2021, regarding the North County Transit District, or NCTD, Uber and Lyft Micro-transit
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 Micro-transit Pilot Program (pilot program) to provide first/last mile
connections at three station locations within the NCTD service area including the Carlsbad
Poinsettia COASTER station and the Sorrento Valley COASTER station. The service is intended to
provide commuters with connections to and from these two transit stations in line with the
expansion of COASTER service which will increase frequencies significantly over the current
schedule.
Discussion
The pilot program was originally scheduled to start on Oct. 25, 2021; however, that date was
postponed, and it recently launched on Jan. 11, 2022. The pilot program, which is offered
through the NCTD's Mobility-as-a-Service Program, will give riders a $7.50 credit toward trips to
or from the Carlsbad Poinsettia COASTER station and the Sorrento Valley COASTER station.
Uber and Lyft will provide rideshare services for trips within specified geofenced areas that either
start or end at the Poinsettia COASTER station, provided as Attachment B. In addition, passengers
with a mobility device can book similar discounted trips for curb-to-curb service via a NCTD
vehicle using the TripShot application. To utilize the pilot program service, COASTER riders will
book trips via the Uber, Lyft or TripShot 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 rideshare companies such as "Uber
surge pricing" when in effect.
Public Works Branch
Transportation Department
1635 Faraday Avenue I Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 760-602-2780 t
Council Memo -NCTD+ Uber and Lyft Micro-transit Pilot Program Update (Districts -All)
Jan. 20, 2022
Page 2
To qualify for the discount, each NCTD+ trip scheduled must begin or end at either the Sorrento
Valley or Carlsbad Poinsettia COASTER station and must be within the defined NCTD+ zone, as
shown in Attachment B.
The NCTD+ pilot program is anticipated to run through October 2022 and is intended to provide
flexibility to travelers connecting to key COASTER stations. The NCTD is looking to use this pilot
program as an opportunity to enhance their understanding of the travel market post-COVID-19,
as well as determine how an on-demand first/last mile option can attract new riders. Due to the
fluid nature of COVID-19 and the latest Omicron variant surge, the NCTD has not provided an
external ridership target to share at this time. The NCTD will provide regular updates on usage of
the pilot program to their Board of Directors and other stakeholders.
Status of the Carlsbad Connector
The NCTD continues to plan for the relaunch of an on-demand micro-transit service similar to the
Carlsbad Connector; however, the launch date has been postponed to the fall of 2022. The NCTD
has expressed that the specific launch date will continue to be dependent on the post-COVID-19
recovery, and they are planning to issue a Request for Proposals to select a consultant to provide
the software application for this on-demand transit service in February 2022.
Next Steps
Staff will continue to coordinate with our partners at the NCTD on the new pilot program. Staff
are reaching out to the local business community within the Palomar Airport Road business area
to inform them of this new pilot program through direct communications and via the city's
commuter resource, www.CarlsbadCommuter.com.
Attachments: A. Council Memorandum dated Oct. 7, 2021
B. Carlsbad Poinsettia COASTER Station Pilot Area Map
C. NCTD+ Pilot Program Press Release
cc: Scott Chadwick, City Manager
Celia Brewer, City Attorney
Gary Barberio, Deputy City Manager, Community Services
Laura Rocha, Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services
Robby Contreras, Assistant City Attorney
David Graham, Chief Innovation Officer
Matt Stafford, Economic Development Manager
Tom Frank, Transportation Director/City Engineer
Jeff Murphy, Community Development Director
Kristina Ray, Communication & Engagement Director
Nathan Schmidt, Transportation Planning and Mobility Manager
To the rnembers of the:
qrycoUNCIL
Date l.9_bl21 CA ✓ CC�
CM .Jf ACM \/ DCM (3) L
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 ofCarlsbad
Memo ID #2021187
Re: NCTD Uber and Lyft Microtransit Pilot Program at Carlsbad Poinsettia Station (Districts -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
Attachment A
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
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1/18/2022 Attachment C: NCTD+ Press Release
https://gonctd.com/nctd-plus-pilot/1/1
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January 11, 2022
NCTD+ pilot program offers discounted rides to and from locations near
key COASTER stations
Oceanside, CA – North County Transit District (NCTD, or the District) today announced a pilot program with Lyft, Uber and TripShot to provide
discounted first and last mile connections for commuters using the Sorrento Valley and Carlsbad Poinsettia COASTER Stations. The pilot, which is
offered through the District’s NCTD+ mobility-as-a-service program, gives riders a $7.50 credit toward trips to or from the Sorrento Valley or Carlsbad
Poinsettia COASTER Stations within defined geographic zones.
The discounted Uber and Lyft rides are available Monday through Friday during regular COASTER service times (5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.). Passengers
with a mobility device can book similar discounted trips for curb-to-curb service via an NCTD vehicle using the TripShot application. Customers can
book a discounted ride within their Uber, Lyft or TripShot apps by using a designated coupon or QR code link. Program information and discount codes
for all three services can be found here.
“NCTD+ provides greater flexibility for commuters to connect to locations near Sorrento Valley and Carlsbad Poinsettia COASTER Stations,” said
NCTD Executive Director Matthew O. Tucker. “Those starting early, or staying late, now have reliable transportation to or from two of our busiest
COASTER stations.”
Customers using the discount codes within the Lyft, Uber or TripShot apps will pay the first $2.50 of a booked trip and receive a credit from NCTD at
completion of the trip for up to the next $7.50. Any remaining trip cost above $10 will be charged to a commuter’s default payment method in the
app.
To qualify for the discount, each NCTD+ trip scheduled must begin or end at either the Sorrento Valley or Carlsbad Poinsettia COASTER stations and
must be within the defined NCTD+ zone.
The Sorrento Valley COASTER Station zone encompasses 16.1 square miles from Sorrento Valley Boulevard to Nobel Drive on the south, and Camino
Santa Fe on the east end to the coast. The Carlsbad Poinsettia COASTER Station geographical zone covers 10.8 square miles including portions of
Cannon Road on the north side to Poinsettia Lane on the south, and S. Melrose to just west of Interstate 5. The zone maps can be found here.
For more information about the NCTD+ Uber and Lyft programs, visit GoNCTD.com/NCTDPlus.