A pilot program seeks to address the problem of transit access by paying for the first mile of trips to and from two light rail stations.
The Denver-area Regional Transportation District (RTD) will pay for the first mile of Bird and Lime scooter and e-bike rides to and from two light rail stations in an effort to help Denver residents connect to public transit, reports Spencer Soicher for 9 News.
“The First Mile Free pilot program will subsidize the first mile of rides to and from the University of Denver and Decatur-Federal light rail stations through 2026 and 2027, with RTD investing more than $60,000 annually through its partnership program.” The program aims to alleviate Denver’s transit access problem: as of 2019, just 25 percent of residents lived within one mile of an RTD station.
The program was developed thanks to the work of graduate student Joel Cox and funded through RTD’s partnership program. “Cox expects the program to fund nearly 40,000 trips to transit while reducing emissions by 65 percent and encouraging safer, shorter micromobility trips that reduce sidewalk clutter.”
Read the full story: RTD pilot program covers first mile of scooter costs to boost transit use
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