Maitland considering subsidizing Uber rides

Maitland is considering an über change in plans regarding how it helps residents commute within the city.

Modeled after an agreement recently signed in Altamonte Springs, Maitland is considering partnering with the on-demand ride service Uber to offer subsidized rides to those motoring within its limits. Last week, the Maitland City Council agreed to direct its acting city manager, Sharon Anselmo, to look into the options of setting up a similar agreement in Maitland.

“This one has gone from being a ‘wow its interesting’… to ‘this is a game changer,’” said Maitland’s state lobbyist Louis Rotundo.

“…If you can provide door-to-door service for your residents at a fixed price that you can control, in a time frame that is incredibly short…it raises interesting questions.”

In the yearlong agreement between Uber and Altamonte Springs, which went into effect last month, the city subsidizes 25 percent of Uber rides that start or end at the city’s SunRail station. The city also subsidizes 20 percent of all other rides that either begin or end in Altamonte Springs.

“This convenient service eliminates worry over finding parking at popular venues, allows individuals who can't drive the ability to get around the City and provides solutions to urgent situations such as car repair, health care, etc.,” reads Altamonte’s website advertising the service.

For Maitland, a deal with Uber would replace the now-defunct idea of FlexBus. FlexBus was supposed to be an on-demand bus service in the city that would transport residents to and from the SunRail station and employment hubs within the city. After a series of political flat tires, that service stalled out for good last year before its wheels ever started turning.

The cities of Altamonte, Longwood and Casselberry were also slated to participate in FlexBus. In Maitland, a NeighborLink bus service provided by Lynx running on a set schedule in mornings and evenings to and from the SunRail station to Maitland Center filled part of the transportation void left by FlexBus. But, Mayor Dale McDonald said, with only one year of funding left for that route, the city needs to explore new transportation options.

“Our needs don’t go away. We need to find a way to efficiently connect the SunRail station and westerly employment centers,” he said.

Altamonte Springs reported that its partnership with Uber, which was inked on March 4, will cost the city about a third of what FlexBus would have cost.

Anselmo will report her findings about the feasibility of signing a similar deal in Maitland to City Council at an upcoming meeting.