Credit: Tom Sofield/NewtownPANow.com
SEPTA and Uber are preparing to join forces to increase access to the transit system throughout the southeastern portion of the state.
The partnership, which was announced last week, began Memorial Day weekend and will last through Labor Day as part of a summer pilot program.
As part of the program, Uber rides will be discounted by 40 percent for those looking to travel to and from suburban Regional Rail stations throughout Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties. The maximum discount applied will be $10 per ride, according to officials.
The stations that apply to the program were reportedly selected because they are among SEPTA’s busiest, with high ridership and limited parking availability. The partnership will no doubt provide further assistance for those traveling to a flight at the Philadelphia Airport (PHL).
According to SEPTA General Manager Jeffrey D. Knueppel, the authority also plans to explore the potential for ride-sharing to bridge the “first and last mile” gap, or the distance between someone’s home and a rail station.
“SEPTA’s partnership with Uber creates exciting new options in our ongoing efforts to provide residents with an efficient and comprehensive transportation network,” Knueppel said. “We expect this to be a valuable service for our existing customers, and also hopefully a tool to bring new riders into the SEPTA system.”
The stations selected for the pilot program will include: Glenside, Jenkintown-Wyncote, Elkins Park, Melrose Park, Warminster, Doylestown, Lansdale, Woodbourne, Swarthmore, Wayne and Exton.
“Uber coupled with SEPTA’s rail network becomes a powerful tool for Pennsylvanians to quickly and efficiently travel around the region, reducing reliance on automobiles, carbon emissions and more,” said Jon Feldman, General Manager for Uber Pennsylvania. “Our technology platform has made it easier to move away from personal car ownership and embrace mass transit systems like SEPTA, invigorating transit throughout the region.”
