Washington, DC Launches Vanpool Service for Underserved Neighborhoods, 2016

Washington, DC’s Department of For Hire Vehicles is awarding an $183,000 grant to a taxicab or limousine company to implement a vanpooling system to serve city neighborhoods currently underserved by public transportation. The system is designed as an alternative to Transportation Network Companies such as Lyft and Uber for people who may not be able to afford the ridesourcing companies’ higher prices, or who do not have a smart phone to be able to access the necessary apps. Users pay $3.25 per ride on a relatively fixed route and can access the rides by hailing it like a traditional taxi cab or by calling to pre-arrange a ride.