LA Metro joins forces with Via to offer first and last mile transport solution

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Authority (LA Metro) has partnered with Via to provide an affordable first and last mile solution to customers. Funded by the Federal Transit Administration, valued $1.35 million (£1.01 million), the plan aims to support transit agencies and communities that integrate new mobility tools such as smart phone apps, bike- and car-sharing and on-demand bus and van services.
November 21, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Authority (LA Metro) has partnered with Via to provide an affordable first and last mile solution to customers. Funded by the 2023 Federal Transit Administration, valued $1.35 million (£1.01 million), the plan aims to support transit agencies and communities that integrate new mobility tools such as smart phone apps, bike- and car-sharing and on-demand bus and van services.


This project is part of a two-region partnership in Los Angeles County and the Puget Sound area with King County Metro and Sound Transit where each region will be testing a new type of partnership with a transportation network company.

Using new technology, customers will be able to book a seat in a shared, dynamically-routed vehicle to or from three major Metro stations. Customers with disabilities, including those with service animals, wheelchairs, or other mobility aids or who need additional assistance to board or alight will be able to request rides that meet their needs.

The Eno Center for Transportation, UCLA and the University of Washington will be studying identify lessons learned from the project to assist future partnerships. In addition, the FTA will be working with Booz Allen Hamilton and the Transportation Sustainability Research Center to evaluate all participating Mobility on Demand (MOD) programs.

LA Metro and Via are finalizing an agreement with the intent of beginning the MOD project in summer 2018. For further information go to metro.net/mod.

Metro Chair and Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti, said: We’re making our systems more inclusive — because access to public transportation is a right, not a privilege. Everyone should be able to make a trip on Metro buses and trains, and these funds will help more riders get where they’re going quickly and conveniently."

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • 2getthere expands driverless system to run on Rotterdam’s public roads
    January 2, 2018
    2getthere will expand its Parkshuttle in Rotterdam region by providing six shuttle vehicles to run autonomously on public roads without a safety steward or driver on board as part of an agreement with the Capelle aan den Ijssel municipality. The project aims to increase regional capacity and will transport 500 passengers per hour in each direction with the first phase operational by next year.
    Read More
  • Houston Metro upgrades time keeping and bid dispatch system
    January 6, 2016
    The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County Texas (Metro) selected Init to provide a state-of-the-art bidding, time-keeping and dispatching software solution (Mobile-Perdis), together with a link to a third party scheduling system, enabling it to streamline labour and time intensive tasks to better manage their nearly 1,600 vehicle operators. Using Mobile-Perdis, Metro will be able to meet their specific dispatching needs without extensive customisation. Driving and work rules will be arranged i
    Read More
  • Opticom gives priority to Memphis Transit’s buses
    October 29, 2014
    A new traffic signal priority system is helping bus passengers in Memphis reach their destinations on time.
    Read More
  • NLC publishes micromobility guide in US
    May 7, 2019
    NLC publishes micromobility guide in US
    Read More

Highlighted Content