Why Do Some Transit Agencies Form Shared-Use Mobility Partnerships while Others Do Not?

Ridehail services such as Uber and Lyft present new, flexible travel options. Integrating these services with existing public transit could reduce costs, facilitate more transit use, and improve access. To realize these benefits, a growing number of transit agencies are exploring partnerships with ridehail and other shared-use mobility companies, such as bikesharing and carsharing services. Under such partnerships transit agencies typically subsidize shareduse mobility services for passengers connecting to transit stations or traveling when transit service is limited or unavailable. If successful, these partnerships could serve as part of a new model of environmentally sustainable, costeffective, and equitable public transportation. However, only a few jurisdictions have implemented successful partnerships. Transit agencies that have not pursued these partnerships have expressed concerns about cost, liability, regulatory issues, and data sharing. Little is known about what prompts some transit providers to pursue these partnerships while others do not. Researchers at UC Davis surveyed 37 transit agencies and interviewed seven transit agency professionals over two years to better understand why transit agencies pursue shared-use mobility partnerships, the factors that influence partnership formation, and barriers that prevent or slow the formation of partnerships.