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Metro Micro sticking around for another few years
A rendering of a Metro Micro vehicle.
(
Courtesy LA Metro
)
Metro Micro will continue offering on-demand rides around L.A. for at least another three years.
The Los Angeles Metro Board of Directors agreed to shake up the business model last week, voting to contract out some services, including the drivers and vehicles.
Patrick Chandler, L.A. Metro media relations manager, told LAist that the program will continue uninterrupted, and the agency will keep adjusting services to improve performance.
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Restrictions were imposed during the country's longest government shutdown. Airlines can resume their regular flight schedules beginning Monday at 6 a.m. Pacific. -
Critics have questioned the need for the project. -
This week’s announcement comes after nearly a year of test rides on freeways in the region with Waymo employees.
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What’s changing?
A company called Nomad Transit LLC will be taking over a bulk of the operations.
L.A. Metro will no longer provide drivers, operators, and supervisor staff, which will instead be left up to the contracting company.
It’ll also be responsible for the vehicles, management, maintenance, and surveillance, to name a few.
However, the eight service zones will stay the same, and people will still be able to use Metro Micro for $2.50 in the El Monte, Altadena/Pasadena/Sierra Madre, Highland Park/Eagle Rock/Glendale, North Hollywood/Burbank, Northwest San Fernando Valley, Watts/Compton, LAX/Inglewood, and UCLA/Westwood/VA Medical Center areas.
How we got here
Metro Micro is a “well-liked” transit service that can help introduce new customers to the L.A. Metro system, according to a board report.
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Nearly 350,000 people would lose access to transit without Metro Micro, the report said, with 19% of its customers using it to connect to fixed route options like buses or trains.
But the program has faced its fair share of challenges, including how much it costs Metro to operate.
The original goal for the average price per ride was up to $25, but as of last September, it was $42. That’s more than four times the average on the Metro bus system.
Officials ended up extending the program to give staff more time to work out a business model that could improve performance and make it more sustainable. The cost per ride has since dropped to around $29, in part due to a higher fare and increased ridership.
Officials expect the new business model to bring that down even further, to $24.77, which would meet the initial goal.
What’s next?
This service contract will be followed by a software contract, which is expected to go to the board for its approval next month. Those software services will let passengers book rides on the app, online, or over the phone and give operators driving instructions for picking them up.
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Nomad Transit LLC’s contract is for three years, but Metro has the option to extend if it wants to continue with the same company.
Both the service and software contracts will go into effect in the spring.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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