PSTA expands partnership with Uber, taxi companies

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — To deal with the so-called “first-mile, last-mile” issue, the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Agency (PSTA) launched a new countywide partnership with Uber, United Taxi, and Wheelchair Transport that allows riders to catch a ride from either of the three services from a bus stop to their final destination for about $1, the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The program, known as Direct Connect, is an expansion of a pilot project PSTA rolled out last February. The trips must be within one of the eight PSTA zones and start or end at a designated bus stop, which is usually within five miles.

The agency is subsidizing the first $5 of the trip, with the customer paying the rest, which with the zone setup will usually be around $1. For the full story, click here.