NEWS RELEASE
TOWN OF INNISFIL
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INNISFIL – Today the Town of Innisfil and Uber announced the expansion of Canada’s first ridesharing and transit partnership with the addition of two new flat fare destinations and a renewed financial commitment.
Launched in May 2017, Innisfil Transit gives residents the option to leave their cars at home, and they’re taking advantage of it. Innisfil Transit has been a great success.
In the first eight months, over 3,400 residents completed more than 26,700 Innisfil Transit trips to connect with the Barrie GO station, get to work, go out with friends, or visit their doctor.
In addition, over 1,300 drivers have made money by helping people get around their community. This means that more people are using the service than it was anticipated would use a bus—and at a lower cost to the town.
Uber and Innisfil co-designed Innisfil Transit to offer residents flat fare rides (for $3-5) to popular destinations, such as the recreation complex, the Barrie GO Station or the Innisfil Heights Employment Area. A standard $5 discount applies to any other door-to-door Innisfil Transit rides beginning or ending anywhere else in Innisfil.
Today, we are releasing key results of Phase I of the partnership. Highlights include:
- Over 3,400 users have completed more than 26,700 Innisfil Transit trips to connect with the commuter rail station, get to work, go out with friends, or visit their doctor.
- Over 1,300 drivers have made money by helping to move their community.
- The Town estimates it is saving more than $8 million per year based on what an equivalent door-to-door bus system across all of Innisfil could cost
You can read more on the results of Phase I of Canada’s first ridesharing and transit partnership here and access the Town of Innisfil’s staff report here.
“Innisfil Transit has had a major impact on our community, providing residents with a safe, convenient and inexpensive door-to-door transit solution that a bus system could never provide,” said Innisfil Mayor Gord Wauchope. “Whether it’s transporting a resident to a medical appointment, getting a family to that evening hockey practice or providing a senior citizen with the means to pick up groceries—Innisfil Transit has undoubtedly changed the lives of our residents for the better.”
"Innisfil Transit is seen around the world as an example of how out-of-the-box thinking, mixed with an appetite for innovation, can have a positive impact on people's lives.” said Rob Khazzam, Uber Canada General Manager. “We are thrilled with the results to date and even more heartened by the stories we’ve heard from residents on how the service has changed the Town for the better.”
Today, the Town of Innisfil and Uber officially added the following $3 flat fare destinations:
- Innisfil ideaLAB and Library (Alcona), located at 967 Innisfil Beach Road, Innisfil.
- South Innisfil Community Centre (Lefroy), located at 1354 Killarney Beach Road, Innisfil.
Innisfil Transit is a unique service that was tailor-made for the municipality. Uber is eager to work with other municipalities to build new solutions to address their community's specific transportation challenges.
For more information about the ridesharing partnership in Innisfil, Ont., please click here or here. To learn more about driving with Uber in Innisfil, please click here.
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