Subsidizing rides through the companies has turned out to be cheaper than running bus routes in some places.

In a number of cities around the United States, transportation agencies are partnering with Uber and Lyft to provide subsidized rides, sometimes through federal grants. In some cases—especially in suburban areas—these arrangements are meant to allow cities to cut low-performing bus and shuttle lines.
Uber has made several such deals in Florida; Lyft begins its first, in Colorado, this month.
In Skift, Joshua Brustein of Bloomberg calls the trend an "oasis of rapprochement" between ride-sharing companies and local governments, which have repeatedly tangled over regulations, data-sharing, and competition.
But, as contracted drivers "effectively become part of the public transportation system," many of the same sources of conflict will remain at play:
Issues of control are going to test these friendships … Local governments are eager for data about ridership that they can use to reconfigure services, and Uber and Lyft tend to see information about demand as trade secrets. If ride hailing does drive down car ownership, as both Uber and Lyft expect it will, that could increase demand for subsidized rides, leaving governments holding the tab for new forms of semi-public transit.
The article also compares these partnerships to those made with Bridj, a startup that runs private buses.
In some cities, the deals are envisioned as a first-mile/last-mile solution—applying only to rides to and from a regional rail stop, for example. But, if they catch on, more questions on equity and reliability will follow:
What happens to people without smartphones? How do Uber and Lyft serve disabled riders? What happens if the cities come to rely on the apps, only to have the private companies decide the partnerships are no longer a sensible business venture for them? And do public governments want to encourage the replacement of public sector jobs with the contract work that defines the sharing economy?
FULL STORY: Uber and Lyft Work With Cities to Replace Public Buses

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

The French Solution to Congested Tunnels: Make Them Car-Free
Bay Area transportation officials keep expanding car capacity. Lyon’s Croix Rousse Tunnel offers a different way.

Missouri Governor Reverses Anti-Discrimination Housing Policies
A new state law bars cities from prohibiting source-of-income discrimination against tenants using Section 8 housing vouchers.

USDOT Launches Unfunded 'SAFE ROADS' Program
The program targets “distractions” and “political messages or artwork,” and paves the way for autonomous vehicles.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Fort Worth
planning NEXT
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie